腕(うで)を組(く)む

うでをくむ
expression
to fold one's arms; to cross one's arms; to link arms
body-partaction
1. to fold one's arms; to cross one's arms
To cross one's arms in front of one's chest, typically while thinking, waiting, or showing displeasure.
腕(うで)を組(く)んで考(かんが)える。
To think with one's arms folded.
彼(かれ)は腕(うで)を組(く)んで壁(かべ)に寄(よ)りかかっていた。
He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
部長(ぶちょう)は腕(うで)を組(く)んだまま、何(なに)も言(い)わなかった。
The department head kept his arms folded and said nothing.
2. to link arms; to walk arm in arm
To interlock arms with another person, typically while walking together.
二人(ふたり)は腕(うで)を組(く)んで歩(ある)いた。
The two walked arm in arm.
母(はは)と腕(うで)を組(く)んで買(か)い物(もの)に行(い)った。
I went shopping with my mother, walking arm in arm.
彼女(かのじょ)は彼(かれ)の腕(うで)を組(く)んで、楽(たの)しそうに話(はな)していた。
She was linking arms with him and chatting happily.

An idiomatic expression with two distinct physical meanings depending on context.

Sense 1 (arms crossed): Implies deep thought, skepticism, displeasure, or a waiting posture. This is the more common usage in narrative and descriptive writing.

Sense 2 (linking arms): Used when two people interlock arms while walking together, showing closeness or affection.

Common collocations

Related words

Related Words

Compare: 手(て)を繋(つな)ぐ (to hold hands)
general
Added 2026.4.4 5:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
21500/21873_udewokumu