1.
to sit down, to take a seat
To sit on a chair, bench, or other raised surface. Unlike 座る which covers sitting on the floor or any sitting posture, 腰掛ける specifically implies sitting on something with a seat — a chair, bench, edge, or similar surface.
ベンチに腰掛けた。
I sat down on the bench.
どうぞこちらに腰掛けてください。
Please have a seat here.
窓辺の椅子に腰掛けて外の景色を眺めていた。
I was sitting in a chair by the window, gazing at the scenery outside.
USAGE:
腰掛ける means to sit on a raised surface (chair, bench, edge of a bed, etc.). The particle に marks the surface sat on. It differs from 座る, which is the general word for sitting and can include sitting on the floor or in any position.
Conjugation: ichidan verb (腰掛けない / 腰掛けます / 腰掛けて).
The related noun 腰掛け means a stool or temporary seat, and figuratively refers to a temporary job or position (腰掛け仕事).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 椅子に腰掛ける: to sit in a chair
- ベンチに腰掛ける: to sit on a bench
- 縁側に腰掛ける: to sit on the veranda