爪
[t͡sɨme̞]
The English phrase 'nails' is translated into Japanese as 爪.
爪 refers to the hard coverings at the ends of your fingers and toes. If you are specifically referring to nail art or painted nails, it is common to use the informal loanword ネイル instead.
Did you know?
- The word 爪 is etymologically linked to the word 妻, which means 'wife'.
- In traditional Japanese folklore, the 爪 of certain supernatural beings can be detached and used as tools or weapons.
- Japanese culture has a specific term for the 'half-moon' white area at the base of the 爪, called 爪半月.
Examples in context
- 爪を切りなさい。Clip your nails.This sentence is useful for giving a command to clip one's 爪.Tatoeba #10282161 by small_snow, translation #2481187 by sharptoothed
- 爪を切らなきゃな。I need to cut my nails.This sentence is useful for expressing a personal need to cut one's 爪.Tatoeba #10281940 by small_snow, translation #9209658 by CK
- 私の爪は短すぎるわ。My nails are too short.This sentence is useful for describing the length of one's 爪.Tatoeba #12698657 by small_snow, translation #3627519 by Hybrid
- 彼女は美しい爪を持っています。She has beautiful nails.
- お客様の爪を丁寧にケアします。We will carefully care for your nails, sir/ma'am.
- ネイルを楽しむTo enjoy nail art
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are at a cafe.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太くん、その爪、ちょっと気になる。Yota-kun, sono tsume, chotto kininaru.Yota, those nails are a bit bothering me.
- 陽太 Yotaえ、本当に？爪を切ったほうがいいかな？E, hontou ni? Tsume o kitta hou ga ii kana?Eh, really? Should I cut my nails?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、少し整えたほうが綺麗だよ。Un, sukoshi totoneta hou ga kirei da yo.Yeah, it would look prettier if you trimmed them a bit.
- 陽太 Yotaわかった、後で切るよ。Wakatta, ato de kiru yo.Got it, I'll cut them later.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 爪, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 爪, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
