腰掛け

こしかけ
Alternative writings: 腰掛, 腰かけ
JLPT:N2
Frequency:

1A seat, stool, or bench — especially a simple place to sit, often without a backrest.

Noun

Examples

公園に置かれた木製の腰掛けに座って一休みした。

I sat on the wooden bench in the park and took a short rest.

玄関先の腰掛けに腰を下ろして靴ひもを結び直した。

I sat down on the seat by the entrance and retied my shoelaces.

古い理髪店には低い腰掛けがいくつも並んでいる。

The old barbershop has several low stools lined up.

2A stopgap job or position taken only as a temporary measure until something better (a real career, or marriage) comes along; a colloquial term, often used with a slightly dismissive nuance.

NounColloquial

Examples

「どうせ腰掛けだから」と言って、彼はいつも仕事に身が入っていなかった。

Saying "it's just a stopgap anyway," he never really put his heart into the job.

結婚するまでの腰掛けのつもりでこの会社に入ったが、気づけばもう五年になる。

I joined this company thinking it was just a stopgap until I got married, but before I knew it, it had been five years.