おんぶ

おんぶ
noun, suru verb
piggyback ride
1. piggyback ride, carrying on one's back
Carrying someone (usually a child) on one's back. A fundamental childcare word that every Japanese person knows from early childhood.
おんぶして。
Give me a piggyback ride.
(あか)ちゃんをおんぶする。
To carry a baby on one's back.
おばあちゃんに(ちい)さい(ころ)よくおんぶしてもらった。
Grandma often gave me piggyback rides when I was little.

USAGE: Functions as a noun and as a する verb (おんぶする).

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • おんぶする (to carry on one's back)
  • おんぶしてもらう (to get a piggyback ride)
  • おんぶ(ひも) (baby carrier strap)

RELATED WORDS: ()っこ (carrying in one's arms, front-carry), 肩車(かたぐるま) (carrying on shoulders).

IDIOM: おんぶに()っこ literally means 'piggyback and front-carry' but idiomatically means 'completely dependent on someone' or 'leaving everything to someone else'.