通じ
also: おつうじ
Meanings
bowel movement; defecation; evacuation
Usually お通じ. A polite, everyday euphemism for bowel movements, often used when talking about regularity, constipation, or health.
I haven't been having many bowel movements lately.
After I started eating more vegetables, my bowel movements improved.
understanding; quickness to understand; being on the same wavelength
Used for how readily someone understands another person's thoughts, feelings, intention, or hints. It is most natural in limited phrases such as 通じが早い, 通じがいい, and 通じが悪い; 理解 or 察し may be more common in plain modern wording.
She is quick to understand and immediately picks up on what we mean.
Even if you hint at it indirectly, he is slow to catch on.
Usage patterns
- お通じがあるto have a bowel movement
I had a bowel movement this morning.
- 通じが早いto be quick to understand (someone's meaning)
She catches on quickly, so I don't need to explain much.
- お通じが良いto have regular bowel movements
Eating lots of vegetables improves bowel regularity.
- 通じが悪いto be slow to catch on; hard to get through to
That boss is slow to catch on, so it's hard to get things across to him.
- お通じをつけるto induce a bowel movement (e.g. with a laxative)
This medicine can help induce a bowel movement.