尻
shiri[ɕiɾʲi]
The Japanese word for arse is 尻 (shiri).
尻 is the standard anatomical term for the part of the body a person sits on. Beyond its literal meaning, it is frequently used in various idiomatic expressions to refer to the end or the rear of something.
Which one should you use?
尻 is the standard term, while けつ is an informal, slangy way to refer to the backside. The term ケツ is a more colloquial and potentially vulgar way to say 'arse' than 尻. For formal, medical or scientific contexts, the term 臀部 is used to describe the buttocks.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
臀部 should be used in formal or medical situations. けつ and ケツ are informal, slangy or potentially vulgar expressions.
Did you know?
- The term 尻 is used in the expression 尻に敷かれる, which literally means 'to be sat on by the arse' and describes a spouse who is dominated by their partner.
- Japanese culture has a distinct concept of 尻上がり meaning 'rising at the end', used to describe a situation that starts poorly but improves over time.
- The kanji for 尻 might actually be an imitation of the Ainu word シㇼ, which means 'place' or 'land'.
Examples in context
- 尻が痛いです。Shiri ga itai desu.My arse hurts.
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are talking about a long flight.
- 蓮 Ren長時間、座りすぎたかな？Choujikan, suwarisugita kana?I think I sat for too long.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮くん、尻が痛くない？Ren-kun, shiri ga itaku nai?Ren, doesn't your arse hurt?
- 蓮 Renうん、かなり痛いよ。Un, kanari itai yo.Yeah, it hurts quite a bit.
- 美咲 Misaki一度、立ち上がって休憩して。Ichido, tachiagatte kyuukei shite.Stand up and take a break for a bit.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 尻, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 尻, CC BY-SA 4.0.
