agura: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Technical, Borrowed
Quick answer
What does “agura” mean?
To sit cross-legged or in a sitting posture on the floor (from Japanese).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To sit cross-legged or in a sitting posture on the floor (from Japanese).
A specific posture of sitting with legs crossed under the body, common in traditional Japanese and other Asian contexts. Also used loosely to describe sitting on the floor in a comfortable, cross-legged manner.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally uncommon and specialised in both varieties. No significant difference in usage.
Connotations
Cultural specificity, formality, or technicality.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency, only encountered in niche contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “agura” in a Sentence
[subject] aguras (intransitive)[subject] sits in agura[subject] adopts the agura positionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “agura” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The instructor asked us to agura for the meditation session.
American English
- He prefers to agura while reading on the tatami mat.
adverb
British English
- He sat agura-style throughout the ceremony.
American English
- They were positioned agura around the low table.
adjective
British English
- The agura posture can be difficult for those with stiff hips.
American English
- She demonstrated the proper agura stance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in anthropology, cultural studies, or ergonomics papers discussing sitting postures.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used when specifically discussing this posture, often with an explanation.
Technical
Used in yoga, martial arts, or meditation contexts to describe specific postures.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “agura”
- Using it as a general verb for 'sit'. (Incorrect: 'I aguraed on the sofa.')
- Pronouncing it with a hard 'g' as in 'go'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency loanword used primarily in specific cultural or technical contexts.
No, it refers specifically to sitting cross-legged on the floor, often in a Japanese context. Using it as a general synonym for 'sit' would be incorrect.
Agura is sitting cross-legged. Seiza is a formal kneeling posture where one sits on their heels with legs folded underneath.
In British English, it's roughly /uh-GOOR-uh/. In American English, it's /uh-GOOR-uh/ or /uh-GURR-uh/. The 'g' is soft, as in 'go'.
To sit cross-legged or in a sitting posture on the floor (from Japanese).
Agura is usually formal/technical, borrowed in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms in English. In Japanese, 'agura o kaku' means to sit cross-legged.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A GUY sitting on the RUG in AGURA'.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMFORT IS BEING GROUNDED (sitting close to the earth).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'agura' be MOST appropriately used?