Japanese symbol for “hips”
腰
こし
Romaji: koshi
lower back; waist; hips; lumbar region
In Japanese, hips is 腰, read こし (koshi).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n lower back; waist; hips; lumbar region
- n body (of hair, noodles, paper, etc.); resilience; spring
Written forms: 腰. Readings: こし、コシ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “hips”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 尻 | しり shiri | buttocks; behind; rump |
| ヒップ | ヒップ hippu | hips; buttocks; backside |
| 腰部 | ようぶ youbu | loins; hips; pelvic region |
| 神輿 | みこし mikoshi | lower back; waist; hips |
| お腰 | おこし okoshi | buttocks; lower back; waist |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 腰痛 | ようつう youtsuu | lower back pain; lumbago |
| 物腰 | ものごし monogoshi | manner; demeanour; demeanor |
| 弱腰 | よわごし yowagoshi | weak attitude |
| 腰掛け | こしかけ koshikake | seat; bench |
| 足腰 | あしこし ashikoshi | legs and loins; lower body |
| 本腰 | ほんごし hongoshi | strenuous effort; earnestness; seriousness |
See also: Chinese symbol for “hips”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.