The Meaning of shippo [尻尾] In Japanese

尻尾
しっぽ
Romaji: shippo N5

What does 尻尾 mean?

Translation and Meaning

tail, animal tail

Definition

What does 尻尾 mean? It refers to the tail of an animal—the rear appendage used for balance and communication. In everyday Japanese it is the standard term for an animal’s tail; in more formal writing you may encounter 尾 or 尾部 for tails or tail sections.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Physical tail of an animal.
  • Trailing end or remainder of something.
  • In casual contexts, used in expressions related to animals, such as describing wagging or tail-related behavior.

Etymology

尻尾 is a native compound formed from 尻 (しり, rear) and 尾 (お, tail). The common pronunciation しっぽ (shippo) arises from the kun readings of the components in this compound, with typical sound shaping in casual speech.

Composition

  • 尻: しり — rear, buttocks
  • 尾: お — tail
  • Together: 尻尾 denotes the tail at the rear of a body, combining the senses of rear and tail.

Usage

Used as a noun for animal tails in everyday talk, zoology and veterinary contexts. In formal or scientific writing, 尾 or 尾部 may be preferred when referring to tail sections; 尻尾 is common in casual speech about pets and wildlife.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine 尻 as the rear of a body and 尾 as a tail; when you put them together you get the tail at the rear, helping you remember that 尻尾 is the animal’s tail.

Variations

  • しっぽ — shippo (common spoken form)
  • 尾 — お (o) — (literary/formal use)
  • 尾部 — びぶ (bibu) — tail section in anatomy/technical contexts

Example Phrases

  • 猫は尻尾を振って部屋を出る。
    Neko wa shippo o futte heya o deru.
    The cat wags its tail and leaves the room.
    Lista:
    • 猫 (neko) – cat
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 尻尾 (shippo) – tail
    • を (wo) – object marker
    • 振って (utte) – wagging
    • 部屋 (heya) – room
    • を (wo) – object marker
    • 出る (deru) – to leave
    The target word 「尻尾」 functions as the object of 振る; 尻尾を振る means ‘to wag one’s tail.’
尻尾