胴のくびれ
dō no kubire
The English phrase 'waist' can be translated into Japanese in several ways depending on the context, such as 胴のくびれ (dō no kubire), 腰部 or 胴回り.
Meaning: part of the body (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 胴のくびれ | dō no kubire | |
| 腰部 | yōbu | [jo̞ːbɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 胴回り | dōmawari |
The way you translate 'waist' depends entirely on whether you are describing an attractive curve, a medical region or a clothing measurement.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 胴のくびれ literally means 'the indentation of the torso'.
Which one should you use?
胴のくびれ refers specifically to the narrow, curved part of the waist and is often used when describing an attractive figure. 腰部 is a technical or medical term used to describe the waist or the lumbar region of the body. 胴回り refers to the measurement around the waist, which is often used in the context of clothing sizes.
How do you pronounce it?
dō no kubire
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use the term koshi if you mean the whole waist area, as it primarily refers to the 'lower back'.
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the term koshi is used to describe the 'springiness' or 'firmness' of noodles, such as in udon, referring to the 'waist' or structural strength of the noodle.
- Because 腰 (koshi) covers the hip area, a phrase like 腰が高い (koshi ga takai), literally 'high waist', can be used idiomistically to describe someone who is arrogant or haughty.
- The term 胴 (dō) used in 胴回り (dō-mari) translates to 'torso' or 'trunk'. It is the same word used to describe the 'body' or 'hull' of a ship or a large drum.
Examples in context
- 体 の お腹 と 腰 に注意しながら運動しましょう。Let's exercise while paying attention to our stomach and waist.
- 腰 にベルトを締めてください。Please tighten your belt around your waist.
- そのドレスは胴のくびれを強調している。Sono doresu wa dou no kubire o kyouchou shite iru.That dress emphasizes the curve of the waist.
- 彫刻の胴のくびれが細い。Choukoku no dou no kubire ga hosoi.The waistline of the sculpture is slender.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are looking at a dress in a clothing store.
- 美咲 Misakiこのワンピース、いいと思わない？Kono wanpiisu, ii to omowanai?Don't you think this dress is nice?
- 健太 Kentaうん、胴のくびれが綺麗に見えるね。Un, dou no kubire ga kirei ni mieru ne.Yeah, it makes the waist look beautiful.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとう。試着してみるね。Arigatou. Shichaku shite miru ne.Thanks. I'll try it on.
- 健太 Kentaきっと美咲に似合うと思うよ。Kitto Misaki ni niau to omou yo.I'm sure it will look great on you, Misaki.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “waist” translations and entries 腰部, 胴回り, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
