How do you say "ankle" in Japanese?

足首

ashikubi

Noun Kanji

In Japanese, "ankle" is 足首 (ashikubi).

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Pronunciation

Ah-shee-koo-BEE, four syllables, built the same way as tekubi but with ashi, foot, instead of hand.

Writing and usage

足首 is written using kanji. It's a noun, and this word is also taught inside the Noun Town language learning game, where it appears in interactive lessons alongside hundreds of other everyday words.

Example sentence

走っているときに足首をひねってしまいました。

hashitsu teirutokini ashikubi wohinetteshimaimashita.

She twisted her ankle while running.

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How to remember 足首

Ashikubi is foot-neck, following the same pattern as tekubi, the narrow joint of the foot.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

Questions about 足首

How do you pronounce 足首?

Ah-shee-koo-BEE, four syllables, built the same way as tekubi but with ashi, foot, instead of hand.

Is 足首 formal or casual?

足首 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 足首 written in Japanese?

足首 is written using kanji. Romanised, it reads as ashikubi.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Ankle" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

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