Proverb / Kotowaza
足が棒になる
To have legs become stiff and tired from walking or standing for a long time.
one's legs become sticks
Quick Answer
To have legs become stiff and tired from walking or standing for a long time.
- Literal Image
- one's legs become sticks
- How to Use It
- Used to describe the physical state of exhaustion in the legs after activities such as long walks, sightseeing, or working a job that requires standing all day.
Meaning
This expression describes the sensation of extreme leg fatigue after an extended period of physical activity. It refers to the state where the legs feel as stiff and unbendable as sticks or poles, making it difficult to move or walk further.
Literal Image
one's legs become sticks
How to Use It
Used to describe the physical state of exhaustion in the legs after activities such as long walks, sightseeing, or working a job that requires standing all day.
Tone
Informal and descriptive of one's physical condition.
Examples
一日中歩き回って、足が棒になってしまった。
I walked around all day, and my legs have turned into sticks.
足が棒になるまで探し回ったが、結局見つからなかった。
I searched around until my legs were stiff as sticks, but in the end, I couldn't find it.
立ち仕事で足が棒になる毎日だが、やりがいはある。
My legs get as stiff as sticks every day from my standing job, but the work is rewarding.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses vocabulary (leg, stick, become), but the metaphorical use of 'bou' (stick) to describe muscle stiffness is a specific idiomatic expression.
足
あし / ashi
leg; foot
棒
ぼう / bou
stick; pole; rod
なる
なる / naru
to become
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a physical description of fatigue, not a literal statement about bones or medical conditions.
Misread Risk
Do not use this to describe a broken leg or a medical injury; it specifically refers to muscle fatigue and stiffness from exertion.
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Origin
This expression stems from the physical sensation of legs becoming rigid and hard to bend after prolonged walking or standing. In Japanese, a 'stick' (bou) is a representative object for something straight and inflexible. The idiom captures the feeling of extreme fatigue where the legs feel as if they have lost their flexibility and have become solid rods.
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