食指

• Reading: しょくし
• Romaji: shokushi
• Kanji breakdown: 食 (shoku/ta) — food, eating; 指 (shi/yubi) — finger
• Pronunciation: /ɕo̞kɯɕi/

Meaning

Appetite; interest; inclination; desire. Particularly used in the set phrase 食指が動く (to feel drawn to something).

Literally means 'index finger' (the finger used to taste food), but in figurative use it refers to one's appetite or desire for something. Almost always appears in the phrase 食指が動く (shokushi ga ugoku), meaning one is tempted or interested. N1-level idiomatic expression.

Examples

1. 新しいプロジェクトの話を聞いて食指が動いた。 Hearing about the new project piqued my interest.
2. 美術品の競売に食指が動いたが、予算の都合で諦めた。 The art auction caught my eye, but I had to pass due to budget constraints.
3. 彼女の提案は魅力的で、思わず食指が動いた。 Her proposal was so appealing that it immediately sparked my interest.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, formal writing, idioms

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Chinese classical literature. The index finger (食指) was believed to twitch when one was about to eat good food, so it became a metaphor for appetite and desire.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated