膝(ひざ)

ひざ

noun

knee, lap

1. knee

The joint in the middle of the leg.

膝(ひざ)を曲(ま)げてください。

Please bend your knees.

膝(ひざ)が痛(いた)くて歩(ある)けません。

My knees hurt and I can't walk.

膝(ひざ)を伸(の)ばしてください。

Please straighten your knees.

走(はし)ったら膝(ひざ)が痛(いた)くなりました。

My knees started hurting after I ran.

祖母(そぼ)は膝(ひざ)が悪(わる)いので、階段(かいだん)を上(のぼ)るのが大変(たいへん)です。

My grandmother has bad knees, so climbing stairs is difficult for her.

2. lap

The upper part of the legs when sitting, where someone might sit or place things.

子供(こども)を膝(ひざ)の上(うえ)に乗(の)せました。

I put the child on my lap.

Lap meaning

猫(ねこ)が膝(ひざ)に来(き)ました。

The cat came onto my lap.

本(ほん)を膝(ひざ)の上(うえ)に置(お)いて読(よ)みました。

I placed the book on my lap and read it.

赤(あか)ちゃんを膝(ひざ)に抱(だ)いています。

I'm holding the baby on my lap.

電車(でんしゃ)の中(なか)で疲(つか)れた子供(こども)が母親(ははおや)の膝(ひざ)で寝(ね)ていました。

On the train, the tired child was sleeping on their mother's lap.

膝(ひざ) covers both "knee" (the joint) and "lap" (the upper leg surface when sitting). Context makes the meaning clear.

Common expressions

膝(ひざ)を曲(ま)げる: to bend the knee
膝(ひざ)を付(つ)く: to kneel
膝(ひざ)が悪(わる)い: to have bad knees
膝(ひざ)の上(うえ)に乗(の)せる: to place on one's lap

Cultural note

膝(ひざ)枕(まくら) (hizamakura) — resting one's head on another person's lap — is a tender, intimate gesture often depicted in anime and manga. Knee problems are a very common topic of conversation among older Japanese people.

Compounds

膝(ひざ)小僧(こぞう): kneecap (colloquial)
膝(ひざ)掛(か)け: lap blanket

Related Words

Related: 肘(ひじ) (elbow)

Related: 太(ふと)もも (thigh)

Related: すね (shin)

Compare: 半月板(はんげつばん) (meniscus (knee cartilage))

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:19 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

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