膝

• Reading: ひざ
• Romaji: hiza
• Kanji breakdown: 膝 (shitsu/hiza) — knee
• Pronunciation: /hi.za/

Meaning

Knee; lap. The joint in the middle of the leg, or the upper surface of the thighs when seated.

A noun for both the knee joint and the lap area when sitting. Key expressions: 膝を曲げる (hiza wo mageru, to bend one's knees), 膝の上 (hiza no ue, on one's lap), 膝が痛い (hiza ga itai, one's knee hurts). In traditional Japanese culture, sitting in seiza puts significant pressure on the knees, making 膝 a frequently discussed body part.

Examples

1. 長い間正座をしていたら膝が痛くなった。 My knees started hurting after sitting in seiza for a long time.
2. 猫が私の膝の上で眠っている。 A cat is sleeping on my lap.
3. 転んで膝を怪我してしまった。 I fell and injured my knee.

Usage Guide

Context: body, daily life, health

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 膝 combines 月 (meat/body radical) and a phonetic component, directly referring to the knee joint of the body.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal