壺

つぼ【壺】

1 〔容器〕 a pot; a jar; (口が広い) a bowl; (土製の) a crock; 〔ばくちの壺皿〕 ⇒つぼざら, つぼふり.

●壺に入れる pot.

●(ばくちで)壺を振る shake [roll] the dice (cup).

2 〔灸の〕 a moxibustion point; 〔鍼の〕 an acupuncture point; 〔指圧の〕 a pressure [shiatsu] point.

●足の裏の壺を押す press the points on the sole [bottom] of one's foot.

3 〔ねらい目〕 one's aim; what one wants.

●思う壺 ＝おもうつぼ.

●計画が壺にはまった. The plan worked. | The strategy played out.

4 〔勘所〕 the point 《of…》; the essence 《of…》.

●彼女は笑いの壺を心得ている[外さない]. She understands the essence of humor.

●壺さえ押さえておけば大丈夫だ. You'll be okay if you just catch the main points.

5 〔三味線など弦楽器の〕 a (finger) position.

6 〔壺金〕 ⇒つぼがね.