In Japan, the finger referred to as the "middle finger" is the third finger.
Based on common understanding and supported by the provided reference, the finger positioned in the center of the hand is designated as the middle finger.
Understanding Finger Names in Japan
While the concept of a "middle finger" is universal based on its position, Japanese culture sometimes assigns different informal names to fingers based on their characteristics or traditional beliefs. The provided reference highlights some of these common associations:
- Finger #1 (Thumb): Often called the "parent" finger (親指 - oyayubi) due to its size and importance. Traditionally, hiding the thumb when seeing a hearse was believed to prevent the loss of a parent.
- Finger #3 (Middle Finger): As the reference states, "#3 is in the middle, so it's called the “middle” finger" (中指 - nakayubi). Its name directly reflects its central position among the five digits.
- Finger #5 (Pinky): Called the "little" finger (小指 - koyubi) because it is the smallest.
Here's a simple breakdown based on position and common naming:
| Finger Number | Common Position | Common Japanese Name (Romaji) | Common Japanese Name (Kanji/Hiragana) | Reason/Association (based on reference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Innermost | Oyayubi | 親指 | "Parent" finger, largest |
| #2 | Between Thumb & Middle | Hitotsusashi Yubi (Index) | 人差指 | "People pointing finger" |
| #3 | Middle | Nakayubi | 中指 | "Middle" finger, in the center |
| #4 | Between Middle & Pinky | Kusuriyubi (Ring) | 薬指 | "Medicine finger" |
| #5 | Outermost | Koyubi | 小指 | "Little" finger, smallest |
(Note: While the reference specifically mentions #1, #3, and #5, the table includes other fingers for context based on common Japanese finger naming conventions.)
The term 中指 (nakayubi), meaning "middle finger," is the standard Japanese term for the third digit.
