かかと

• Reading: かかと
• Romaji: kakato
• Kanji breakdown: 踵 (kakato) — heel; rarely written in kanji
• Pronunciation: /ka.ka.to/

Meaning

Heel; the back part of the foot or the bottom rear portion of a shoe.

A noun most commonly written in hiragana rather than its kanji 踵. Used for both the anatomical heel and the heel of footwear. Appears in everyday contexts related to shoes, walking, sports injuries, and foot care.

Examples

1. 新しい靴を履いたらかかとが痛くなった。 My heel started hurting after wearing new shoes.
2. かかとの高い靴は長時間歩くのに向いていない。 High-heeled shoes are not suitable for walking long distances.
3. マラソンの後、かかとにまめができてしまった。 After the marathon, I got a blister on my heel.

Usage Guide

Context: footwear, health, sports

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 踵 combines 足 (foot) and 重 (heavy), suggesting the weight-bearing part of the foot. The hiragana form is overwhelmingly preferred in modern writing.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal