Armpit; the area under the arm; the side or flank of the body.
汗で脇が濡れてしまった。
My armpits got wet with sweat.
緊張すると脇の下が冷たくなることがある。
When nervous, sometimes the area under the arms feels cold.
シャツの脇に小さな穴が開いていた。
There was a small hole in the side of the shirt.
Beside; close to; near; by — indicating the side or vicinity of something.
机の脇に椅子を置いてください。
Please put the chair beside the desk.
彼は私の脇に立って写真を撮った。
He stood next to me and we took a photo.
古い木の脇を通って帰宅した。
I walked home passing by an old tree.
Aside; to the side; out of the way — used when placing something aside or moving it out of the main area.
荷物は脇に置いて、床を片付けてください。
Put the luggage aside and tidy the floor, please.
作業中は危ないから工具は脇へどけておいて。
Because it's dangerous during work, put the tools out of the way.
話が脇にそれてしまったので、本題に戻そう。
The conversation went off on a tangent, so let's return to the main topic.
Off-track; off-topic — when a discussion or topic deviates from the main subject.
会議で余計な話が多く、議題が脇にそれてしまった。
There was a lot of unnecessary talk at the meeting and the agenda went off track.
その脇の話は面白いけれど、今は関係ないからやめよう。
That side story is interesting, but it's not relevant now, so let's stop.
A deuteragonist or supporting role (e.g., in Noh or traditional theater); the secondary role beside the lead.
この能ではワキが物語の進行を助ける重要な役割を担う。
In this Noh play, the Waki plays an important role in advancing the story.
昔の喜劇では脇が笑いをとることが多かった。
In old comedies, the supporting actor often provided the comic relief.
The secondary verse (wakiku) in linked-verse poetry; an abbreviation for such a verse — specialized/literary usage.
連歌では主句に続く脇が重要な役割を果たす。
In renga (linked verse), the following wakiku plays an important role.