1.
thumb sucking; finger sucking
The habit of sucking one's thumb or fingers, typically seen in infants and young children. Often discussed in parenting and pediatric contexts.
赤ちゃんが指しゃぶりをしている。
The baby is sucking its thumb.
三歳になっても指しゃぶりが治らない。
The thumb sucking hasn't stopped even at age three.
歯並びへの影響が心配なので、そろそろ指しゃぶりを卒業させたい。
I'm worried about the effect on her teeth, so I'd like to wean her off thumb sucking soon.
Composed of 指 (finger) and しゃぶり (the noun form of しゃぶる, to suck). The verb しゃぶる is onomatopoeic, evoking the sucking sound. While primarily associated with babies and toddlers, the word also appears in discussions about child development and dental health.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 指しゃぶりをする: to suck one's thumb
- 指しゃぶりをやめる: to stop thumb sucking
- 指しゃぶりの癖: the habit of thumb sucking
USAGE NOTE:
指しゃぶりを卒業する (to graduate from thumb sucking) is a common gentle expression parents use when encouraging children to outgrow the habit.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- おしゃぶり: pacifier — an object given to babies as a substitute for thumb sucking
- 爪噛み: nail biting — another childhood habit that parents try to break