armpit, the other way, another place, flank
Also: supporting role
On'yomi (音読み)
- キョウ
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
- わき
- わけ
About this kanji
The kanji 脇 (わき) primarily means 'armpit' but can also refer to the flank or side of something. It’s typically used as a noun. For example, 脇役 (わきやく) means 'supporting role,' often used in acting contexts, while 脇見 (わきみ) refers to 'looking from the side' and can describe someone glancing away from their main focus. Another example is 関脇 (せきわけ), a term for a wrestler of the third highest rank in sumo. One usage note is that while it can refer to physical sides or supports, it can also be used metaphorically for something secondary or alternative.
Example sentences
脇道を使って近道した。
I took a shortcut through the side road.
Meanings across languages
- English
- armpit, the other way, another place, flank, supporting role
- Tiếng Việt
- nách
- 日本語
- 脇
- 한국어
- 옆
- 中文
- 腋
- id
- ketiak
- th
- รักแร้
- es
- axila
- fr
- aisselle
- de
- Achsel
- pt
- axila
Common compounds
- 関脇せきわけwrestler of the third highest rank
- 脇見わきみlooking from the side, looking aside
- 脇役わきやくsupporting role (actor), minor role
- 口脇くちわきedges of the mouth
- 小脇こわきunder one's arm, (in) the armpit
- 両脇りょうわきboth sides
- 脇差わきざしwakizashi, short sword worn by samurai
- 脇腹わきばらside (of the torso), flank, illegitimate child
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