ぎっくり腰 (gikkuri-goshi) になった。
In English, you would say, "I pulled my back." In Dutch, you would say, "Ik ben door mijn rug gegaan" ("I went through my back").
The word ぎっくり (gikkuri) is said to come from びっくり (bikkuri), meaning "surprised" or "shocked." Because when you are surprised, the lower back, which is considered the center of the body and therefore very important, is thought to lose its energy. It is said that ぎっくり腰 (gikkuri-goshi) originally came from びっくり腰 (bikkuri-goshi), referring to a back injury caused by a sudden shock or surprise. Whether this etymology is actually correct is debated, but many Japanese people associate the two words.
Another interesting expression is 腰が抜ける (koshi ga nukeru), literally "my lower back comes out" or "my back gives way." It is used when someone is so shocked, frightened, or surprised that they can no longer stand. In English, a similar expression would be "my legs gave out."
It's fascinating how different languages and cultures use different body parts to express emotions and situations. Here are a few Japanese expressions:
口が堅い (kuchi ga katai) – literally "having a hard mouth"; someone who can keep a secret.
鼻が高い (hana ga takai) – literally "having a high nose"; to be proud of oneself or someone else.
腹が立つ (hara ga tatsu) – literally "the belly stands up"; to get angry.
口が軽い (kuchi ga karui) – literally "having a light mouth"; someone who cannot keep a secret.
目がない (me ga nai) – literally "having no eyes"; to have a weakness for something or be crazy about something.
首が回らない (kubi ga mawaranai) – literally "the neck won't turn"; to be deep in debt or unable to manage financially.
首を長くする (kubi o nagaku suru) – literally "to make one's neck long"; to eagerly look forward to something.
Going back to my poor back... fortunately, these days there is a Japanese Shiatsu massage therapist right here in Rotterdam!
