腕

• Reading: うで
• Romaji: ude
• Kanji breakdown: 腕 (wan/ude) — arm, skill
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.de/

Meaning

Arm. The upper limb of the body from shoulder to hand.

Also used figuratively to mean skill or ability: 腕がいい (skilled), 腕を磨く (to improve one's skills). 腕時計 means wristwatch. The word covers the entire arm, not just the forearm.

Examples

1. 腕を上げて手を振った。 I raised my arm and waved.
2. 彼は料理の腕がいい。 He's a skilled cook.
3. 腕時計を忘れてきた。 I forgot my wristwatch.

Usage Guide

Context: body parts, skills, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji depicts flesh (月) with a phonetic element.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal