片腕(かたうで)

かたうで
noun
one arm; right-hand man
body-partperson
1. one arm
One of a person's two arms. Can refer to the loss or absence of one arm.
片腕(かたうで)を怪我(けが)した。
I injured one arm.
片腕(かたうで)で重(おも)い荷物(にもつ)を持(も)ち上(あ)げた。
He lifted the heavy luggage with one arm.
事故(じこ)で片腕(かたうで)を失(うしな)いながらも、選手(せんしゅ)として復帰(ふっき)した。
Despite losing one arm in an accident, he returned as an athlete.
2. right-hand man, trusted assistant
A person's most trusted and capable aide or assistant. The metaphor likens an indispensable helper to one's own arm.
彼(かれ)は社長(しゃちょう)の片腕(かたうで)だ。
He is the president's right-hand man.
長年(ながねん)片腕(かたうで)として支(ささ)えてくれた部下(ぶか)が退職(たいしょく)した。
The subordinate who had supported me as my right-hand man for many years retired.
監督(かんとく)の片腕(かたうで)として、チームの戦術(せんじゅつ)を練(ね)る役割(やくわり)を担(にな)っている。
As the manager's right-hand man, he is responsible for devising the team's tactics.

Usage

Sense 1 is the literal meaning (one arm), while sense 2 is the figurative meaning (trusted aide). The figurative sense is very common, especially in business and organizational contexts. The metaphor emphasizes that the person is as essential and closely connected as one's own arm.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 片手(かたて) (one hand)
Compare: 右腕(みぎうで) (right arm)
general
Added 2026.2.25 22:32 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13509_kataude