しっぽ

noun

tail

1. tail (of an animal)

The tail of an animal. The most common everyday word for tail, used especially when talking about pets.

The dog wags its tail.

The cat's tail is long.

しっぽを踏(ふ)まないように気(き)をつけて。

Be careful not to step on its tail.

2. end, tail end

The end or trailing part of something, used figuratively.

しっぽを出(だ)す。

To show one's true colors (lit. 'to let one's tail show').

To catch someone red-handed (lit. 'to grab the tail').

We caught the culprit red-handed.

しっぽ is the most common everyday word for an animal's tail, especially in casual speech and when talking about pets.

Can be written as 尻尾(しっぽ), though hiragana is standard.

From 尻(しり) (buttocks) + 尾(お) (tail), with sound change.

しっぽを振(ふ)る: to wag one's tail
しっぽを巻(ま)いて逃(に)げる: to run away with one's tail between one's legs (idiom: to flee in defeat)
しっぽを出(だ)す: to reveal one's true nature (lit. to let one's tail show)
しっぽを掴(つか)む: to catch someone's trail; to find evidence of wrongdoing

尾(お): tail (literary/formal, also used in compounds like 尾行(びこう))
尻尾(しっぽ): same word in kanji form
しっぽ is the default choice in conversation; 尾(お) appears in written or scientific contexts

Related Words

Compare: 尾(お) (tail)

general

Added 2026.1.31 13:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

09000/09089_shippo