スマホ首
Meaning: Text neck; neck pain or poor posture caused by constantly looking down at a smartphone.
スマホ首 describes the modern epidemic of forward head posture and neck strain from prolonged smartphone use. As smartphone screen time skyrocketed, orthopedic clinics reported a surge in patients with this condition. The term is widely used in health media, beauty advice, and posture correction content, making it one of the most recognizable modern health buzzwords in Japan.
Examples
- スマホ首がひどくて整体に通い始めた。 手机颈太严重了,开始去整骨院了。El cuello de móvil me estaba matando, así que empecé a ir al fisioterapeuta.거북목이 심해서 정체원에 다니기 시작했어.
- スマホ首の改善ストレッチがバズってたから試してみた。 改善手机颈的拉伸操火了,我也试了试。Un vídeo de estiramientos para el cuello de móvil se hizo viral, así que lo probé.거북목 개선 스트레칭이 화제여서 한번 해봤어.
- 電車でみんなスマホ見てるけど、絶対スマホ首になるよね。 电车上大家都在看手机,肯定都会得手机颈吧。En el tren todo el mundo mira el móvil... seguro que todos acaban con cuello de móvil.전철에서 다들 스마트폰 보고 있는데 확실히 거북목 되겠다.
Pronunciation
/su.ma.ho.ku.bi/
Usage Guide
Context: health, daily conversation, social media
Tone: concerned, self-aware
✓ Do Say
- スマホ首やばいから、画面の位置もっと上にした方がいいよ。 (Your text neck must be terrible — you should hold your screen higher.)你的手机颈肯定很严重吧——应该把屏幕举高一点。Tu cuello de móvil debe de ser horrible — deberías sujetar la pantalla más arriba.거북목 심하니까 화면 위치를 좀 더 올리는 게 좋겠어. (거북목이 심하니까 화면을 더 높이 들어.)
- 最近スマホ首が気になって姿勢矯正グッズ買った。 (I've been worried about text neck lately so I bought a posture corrector.)最近一直担心手机颈,买了个姿势矫正器。Últimamente me preocupa el cuello de móvil, así que me compré un corrector de postura.요즘 거북목이 신경 쓰여서 자세 교정 기구를 샀어. (최근 거북목이 걱정돼서 자세 교정 용품을 샀어.)
✗ Don't Say
- 医師の診察で「スマホ首」とだけ言う — 正式にはストレートネックなど医学用語を使う (At a doctor's appointment, use medical terms like ストレートネック rather than the colloquial スマホ首)在医生问诊时只说'手机颈'——正式场合应使用直颈症等医学术语En la consulta médica, utiliza términos médicos como ストレートネック (cuello recto) en lugar del coloquial スマホ首 (cuello de móvil).의사 진찰에서 「スマホ首」라고만 말하지 말 것 — 정식으로는 일자목 등 의학 용어를 사용할 것 (의사 진료 시에는 구어체인 スマホ首 대신 ストレートネック 같은 의학 용어를 사용하세요)
Common Mistakes
- Thinking スマホ首 is just about the neck — it can also cause headaches, shoulder pain, and upper back problems
Origin & History
Compound of スマホ (smartphone, abbreviated from スマートフォン) + 首 (neck). Coined in the 2010s as smartphone usage became ubiquitous and orthopedic complaints about forward head posture surged.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s, as smartphone usage became universal
Generation: All ages, especially heavy smartphone users
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Frequently featured in health segments on TV and YouTube posture-correction content.
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