脇

the side of something (this sense may also be spelled 傍 or 側).

in ancient Japan, an assistant to the 春宮坊 (Tōgūbō, rank title; responsible for administering eastern provinces)

short for 脇(わき)百(びゃく)姓(しょう) (waki-byakushō): lower-ranking commoners in the Edo period and earlier

something of lesser importance, something on the back burner (often used in constructions such as 脇にする (waki ni suru, “to put off to the side”), 脇になる (waki ni naru, “to become off to the side”).)

a tangent, such as in a conversation

in the medieval period, old name for 関脇 (sekiwake, sumō rank)

somewhere, someone, or something else

the underarm area of clothing

in 能楽 (nōgaku, “Noh theatre”), the supporting role played alongside the main protagonist

in 浄瑠璃 (jōruri, recitation accompanying a puppet show), the supporting reciter

in 邦楽 (hōgaku, traditional Japanese music), the accompaniment

short for 脇(わき)能(のう) (wakinō): a type of Noh theatre, performed first in a series of performances, wherein a god or spirit prays for a peaceful reign for the emperor

short for 脇(わき)句(く) (wakiku): the two seven-syllable lines of poetry following the 発句 (hokku, the first three lines of a renga, of 17 syllables and later serving as the haiku form)

(anatomy) the armpit, the underarm