1.
big toe
The large innermost toe on the foot. In Japanese, toes are usually referred to using the names of the fingers of the hand prefixed with 足の ('of the foot'), so the big toe is literally 'the thumb of the foot.' Frequently mentioned in medical, sports, and footwear contexts.
Literally 'the thumb of the foot.' Japanese does not have distinct one-word names for each toe; instead, toes are described by taking the corresponding finger name and prefixing it with 足の.
Toe names
- 足の親指: big toe (= thumb of foot)
- 足の人差し指: second toe (= index finger of foot)
- 足の中指: middle toe
- 足の薬指: fourth toe (= ring finger of foot)
- 足の小指: little toe
Common collocations
- 足の親指をぶつける: to stub one's big toe
- 足の親指の爪: the nail of the big toe
- 足の親指の付け根: the base of the big toe
- 足の親指が痛い: one's big toe hurts
- 足の親指を骨折する: to break one's big toe
Usage
- In everyday speech, people often just say 親指 when context makes it clear whether the hand or foot is meant — e.g., when pointing to one's foot or discussing shoes.
- The technical medical term is 母趾 or 第一趾, but these are rarely used outside hospitals.
- Common medical conditions named with this word include 巻き爪 ('ingrown toenail') and 外反母趾 ('bunion; hallux valgus').