足の爪
ashi no tsume
The English phrase 'toenail' is translated into Japanese as 足の爪 (ashi no tsume).
足の爪 is used to refer specifically to the plate covering the end of a toe. While the word 爪 can refer to both fingernails and toenails, adding the prefix for foot is necessary to be specific.
Meaning: the plate covering the end of a toe (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 足 (foot), the possessive particle の and 爪 (nail), literally meaning 'foot's nail'.
Which one should you use?
To specify a fingernail instead of a toenail, replace 足 (foot) with 手 (hand) to say 手の爪.
How do you pronounce it?
ashi no tsume
Did you know?
- In some traditional contexts, the way one cuts their 足の爪 was believed to influence their health or luck, leading to specific superstitions about which day of the week is best for nail clipping.
- The character for nail, 爪, is a pictograph. Its original form in ancient script was a literal drawing of a claw or nail.
- There is a Japanese expression 爪を研ぐ meaning 'to sharpen one's claws'. While it uses the word 爪, it is used metaphorically to mean preparing for a fight or a challenge.
Examples in context
- 足の爪を切ります。ashi no tsume o kirimasu.I will cut my toenails.
- 足の爪が割れています。ashi no tsume ga warete imasu.A toenail is cracked.
- 足の爪を丁寧にケアしましょう。ashi no tsume o teinei ni kea shimashou.Let's take good care of our toenails.
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are talking about foot care at home.
- 健太 Kenta結衣、足の爪を切るのを手伝ってくれる？Yui, ashi no tsume o kiru no o tetsudatte kureru?Yui, can you help me cut my toenails?
- 結衣 Yuiいいよ。健太の足の爪は少し長いね。Ii yo. Kenta no ashi no tsume wa sukoshi nagai ne.Sure. Kenta, your toenails are a bit long.
- 健太 Kentaそうかな？気づかなかったよ。Sou kana? Kizukanakatta yo.Is that so? I didn't notice.
- 結衣 Yui大丈夫、すぐに綺麗にするからね。Daijoubu, sugu ni kirei ni suru kara ne.Don't worry, I'll make them neat right away.
