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elbow
Kanji 2101

Thank you for visiting this Character Home Page. Below you'll find a synopsis of the essay. If you wish to read the full text, the PDF of the essay is available for purchase to the right.

Synopsis

Learn how the Japanese talk about leaning on elbows, standing with arms akimbo, hitting the funny bone, and elbowing someone in the ribs. Find out about massaging the elbows versus massaging with the elbows. See what an "elbow gun" might be and what it means to pull someone's elbow figuratively. Also learn words for the elbows on dogs, clothes, and even buildings!  

Revision history:

May 19, 2022: p. 5: Added this comment about a sample sentence: "This sounds like it’s about martial arts. If the idea is instead that someone lightly elbows another in the ribs to communicate something, the 突く should change to つつく (to poke)."

June 9, 2021: 

  • p. 2: Updated the Henshall etymology.
  • p. 7: Expanded on the answer to Quick Quiz 2.
  • p. 10: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

Aug. 28, 2015: Originally published.

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Kanji PDF
Cover of essay 2101 on 肘, "elbow"
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