縫い目
nuime
In Japanese, the English phrase 'stitch' is translated as 縫い目 (nuime).
縫い目 is used to refer to a stitch or a seam in the context of sewing.
Meaning: single pass of the needle in sewing (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
It literally translates to 'sewing mark'.
How do you pronounce it?
nuime
Did you know?
- The verb 縫う (nuu) is also used metaphorically to describe 'weaving' through a crowd or traffic, such as 'stitching' one's way through a busy street.
- Japanese culture has a traditional art called Sashiko that uses a specific running stitch. While 縫い目 is a general term, Sashiko refers to a functional and decorative stitching style used to reinforce garments.
- The character 目 in 縫い目 usually means 'eye', but here it refers to a 'visual feature' or 'mark'. This same character is used to describe the 'grain' of wood or the 'mesh' of a net.
Examples in context
- 私は上着の縫糸が切れたので、修理しました。I repaired it because the stitches on my jacket came loose.
- この手袋の縫い目がほどけてしまった。The stitching on these gloves came undone.
- この縫い目はとても綺麗ですね。Kono nuime wa totemo kirei desu ne.This stitch is very beautiful.
- もっと細かく縫い目を入れてください。Motto komakaku nuime o irete kudasai.Please make the stitches smaller.
Example conversation
Yui is showing Yota a piece of clothing she mended.
- 結衣 Yui見て、自分で直したよ。Mite, jibun de naoshita yo.Look, I fixed it myself.
- 陽太 Yotaすごいね。縫い目がとても綺麗だ。Sugoi ne. Nuime ga totemo kirei da.That's amazing. The stitches are very neat.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとう。頑張ったから。Arigatou. Ganbatta kara.Thanks. I worked hard on it.
- 陽太 Yota本当だね。上手だよ。Hontou da ne. Jouzu da yo.You're right. You're good at it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 縫い目, CC BY-SA 4.0.
