腰 — “Loins / Hips / Waist / Low Wainscoting” in Japanese

Master (高手)よう, こし

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“Loins / Hips / Waist / Low Wainscoting” in Japanese is 腰, read you, koshi (よう, こし). It is a Jōyō kanji taught in Japanese secondary school (junior & senior high) — the 高手 · Master tier beyond the grade 1–6 Kyōiku set, and appears in words such as 腰痛 (lower back pain).

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What does 腰 mean?

Full details, readings & example

Kanji	腰
Meaning	Loins / Hips / Waist / Low Wainscoting
Readings	よう, こし
Grade	Master (高手 · secondary school)
Curriculum	Jōyō kanji · Japanese secondary school (JLPT N1–N2)
Example	腰痛 (lower back pain)

How to read 腰

腰 is read you (よう) or koshi (こし) depending on the word.

Words with 腰

腰痛

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Kanji read the same way as 腰

Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:

Updated: 2026-08-28