3

I notice Japanese people squatting in this position for long periods of time without using a chair/stool. Thank you.

2 Answers 2

8

The most fitting verb for this that I can think of is しゃがむ, rarely written with kanji as 蹲む. Similar terms include かがむ and こごむ; however, these don't have the same sense of "squatting for long periods of time", and might better be translated as "to crouch [such as to pick something up, for かがむ; or to hide, for こごむ]".

0
8

In addition to Eiríkr Útlendi's answer, I just want to add some slang expressions: うんこ座り{すわり} or ヤンキー座り{すわり}. "Poop squat" and "yankii squat", respectively. The first one is obvious considering the traditional Japanese-style toilets. The second term refers to the stereotypical image of juvenile delinquents/hoodlums in Japan, ヤンキー, who are known to squat like this.

3
  • 1
    I don't think "thugs" is a good translation of ヤンキー - (チンピラ may be a closer translation of "thugs"); the stereotypical British chav and chavette is closer in image, if not fashion, to how I picture a ヤンキー.
    – Ken Y-N
    Mar 21, 2017 at 4:42
  • Thanks for pointing that out. I agree chav and chavette is a better comparison.
    – user224579
    Mar 21, 2017 at 16:03
  • 1
    I also know it as うんこずわり with ず.
    – Earthliŋ
    Mar 21, 2017 at 16:22

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .