1.
little finger, pinky (of the hand)
The smallest finger on the hand, located on the outer edge opposite the thumb.
小指を立てる。
To raise one's pinky finger.
小指に指輪をしている。
I'm wearing a ring on my little finger.
約束するとき、小指を絡める。
When making a promise, we link our little fingers.
Refers to 'pinky promise'
小指をドアに挟んでしまった。
I accidentally caught my little finger in the door.
子どもたちは小指を絡めて「指切りげんまん」と歌った。
The children linked their little fingers and sang "yubikiri genman."
指切りげんまん is a children's promise-sealing chant
2.
little toe, pinky toe
The smallest toe on the foot. Often specified as 足の小指.
足の小指が痛い。
My little toe hurts.
足の小指をぶつけた。
I bumped my little toe.
角に足の小指をぶつけて涙が出た。
I stubbed my little toe on a corner and tears came to my eyes.
新しい靴が小さくて、足の小指が当たる。
The new shoes are small and they press on my little toe.
足の小指の爪が割れてしまったので、病院に行った。
My little toenail cracked, so I went to the hospital.
CULTURAL NOTE: In Japanese culture, linking little fingers (指切り) is a traditional way of sealing a promise, similar to a 'pinky promise' in English. The full phrase is 指切り拳万.
RELATED FINGER NAMES:
- 親指 (thumb)
- 人差し指 (index finger)
- 中指 (middle finger)
- 薬指 (ring finger)
- 小指 (little finger)
For the toe, it's common to say 足の小指 to distinguish from the finger.