俯(うつぶ)せ

うつぶせ
noun
lying face down; prone position
1. lying face down; prone position
The position of lying with one's face and front of body facing downward.
俯(うつぶ)せに寝(ね)る。
To sleep face down.
赤(あか)ちゃんを俯(うつぶ)せにしてはいけない。
You must not put a baby face down.
彼(かれ)は床(ゆか)に俯(うつぶ)せになって倒(たお)れていた。
He was lying face down on the floor.

俯(うつぶ)せ describes the prone position — lying with the face and body facing downward. It contrasts with 仰向(あおむ)け (face up, supine).

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 俯(うつぶ)せになる: to lie face down
  • 俯(うつぶ)せに寝(ね)る: to sleep on one's stomach
  • 俯(うつぶ)せの姿勢(しせい): prone position
  • 俯(うつぶ)せに倒(たお)れる: to fall face down

USAGE:
Appears in everyday body position descriptions, medical contexts (sleeping posture advice for infants), exercise instructions, and narrative scenes. Note that sleeping face down (俯(うつぶ)せ寝(ね)) is often discussed in health advice as a habit to avoid.

KANJI NOTE:
The kanji 俯(うつぶ) is relatively uncommon; this word is frequently written in hiragana as うつぶせ or うつ伏(ぶ)せ.

Related Words

Antonym: 仰向(あおむ)け (face up)
general
Added 2026.1.16 17:09 · Revised 2026.3.28 9:56
05500/05547_utsubuse