Body Parts

35 phrases · Japanese with romanization, English and audio

  1. 頭

    Atama

    Head

    Usage

    Show this at a clinic and point at your own head. A headache is "zutsū"

  2. 髪

    Kami

    Hair

    Usage

    Used at a salon or barber. "Kami no ke" is the fuller form

  3. 顔

    Kao

    Face

    Usage

    Point at this at a dermatology clinic or salon — "my face itches", "my face is swollen"

  4. 目

    Me

    Eye

    Usage

    An eye clinic is "ganka" and eye drops are "megusuri". Same word as in the nouns deck

  5. 耳

    Mimi

    Ear

    Usage

    An ENT clinic is "jibika". Also handy for ear pain on a flight

  6. 鼻

    Hana

    Nose

    Usage

    Same reading as "hana" (flower) but a different kanji. A nosebleed is "hanaji"

  7. 口

    Kuchi

    Mouth

    Usage

    A mouth ulcer is "kōnaien" — useful to show at a pharmacy

  8. 歯

    Ha

    Tooth

    Usage

    A dentist is "haisha". Show this and point at the tooth that hurts

  9. 舌

    Shita

    Tongue

    Usage

    For a burnt or numb tongue. Homophone with "shita" (below), so show the kanji

  10. 首

    Kubi

    Neck

    Usage

    The outside of the neck. Pain when swallowing is a different word — "nodo" (throat)

  11. 喉

    Nodo

    Throat

    Usage

    Japanese distinguishes "kubi" (neck) from "nodo" (throat). A sore throat is "nodo ga itai"

  12. 肩

    Kata

    Shoulder

    Usage

    At a massage shop, "kata ga kotte imasu" means "my shoulders are stiff"

  13. 腕

    Ude

    Arm

    Usage

    Shoulder to wrist. From the wrist down is a separate word, "te" (hand)

  14. 肘

    Hiji

    Elbow

    Usage

    Often written in hiragana as "hiji". Point at it after a fall

  15. 手

    Te

    Hand

    Usage

    From the wrist down; the whole arm is "ude". Same word as in the nouns deck

  16. 指

    Yubi

    Finger

    Usage

    Covers fingers and toes alike. To be specific: "te no yubi" / "ashi no yubi"

  17. 爪

    Tsume

    Nail

    Usage

    Used at a nail salon, or for a torn-nail injury

  18. 胸

    Mune

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or palpitations. Same word as in the nouns deck

  19. お腹

    Onaka

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    The belly as seen from outside. The organ (stomach) is a separate word, "i"

  20. 背中

    Senaka

    Back

    Usage

    The upper back; for lower-back pain use "koshi"

  21. 腰

    Koshi

    Lower back / waist

    Usage

    Lower-back pain is "yōtsū". Japanese names the lower back separately from "senaka"

  22. お尻

    Oshiri

    Buttocks

    Usage

    The "o-" form is the everyday, non-crude one. In medical settings: "denbu"

  23. 脚

    Ashi

    Leg

    Usage

    The whole leg. Pronounced the same as "ashi" (foot), so show the kanji or point at yourself

  24. 膝

    Hiza

    Knee

    Usage

    Often written in hiragana as "hiza". For a knee hurt while hiking or sitting seiza

  25. 足

    Ashi

    Foot

    Usage

    From the ankle down. In speech "ashi" also covers the whole leg, so point to clarify

  26. 足首

    Ashikubi

    Ankle

    Usage

    A sprain is "nenza"; "ashikubi o hinerimashita" means "I twisted my ankle"

  27. 皮膚

    Hifu

    Skin

    Usage

    A dermatology clinic is "hifuka". In beauty contexts the word is "hada"

  28. 骨

    Hone

    Bone

    Usage

    A fracture is "kossetsu"; an orthopedic clinic is "seikei geka"

  29. 血

    Chi

    Blood

    Usage

    Bleeding is "shukketsu"; a blood type is "ketsuekigata"

  30. 心臓

    Shinzō

    Heart

    Usage

    The organ. The emotional "heart" is a different word, "kokoro". Show it when explaining a condition

  31. 胃

    I

    Stomach (organ)

    Usage

    The organ, as opposed to "onaka" (the belly). Stomach medicine is "igusuri"

  32. 腸

    Chō

    Intestine

    Usage

    A gastroenterology clinic is "ichōka". Used when explaining the source of abdominal pain

  33. 肺

    Hai

    Lung

    Usage

    Pneumonia is "haien"; a respiratory clinic is "kokyūki naika"

  34. 肝臓

    Kanzō

    Liver

    Usage

    Comes up in health checks and questions about drinking

  35. 腎臓

    Jinzō

    Kidney

    Usage

    Show it when explaining a condition or medication. Dialysis is "tōseki"

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