Japanese Body Parts Vocabulary: 50+ Essential Words
Learn 50+ Japanese body parts with kanji, hiragana, and pronunciation! Essential vocabulary for beginners, travelers, and JLPT N5-N4 learners.
Whether you're at a doctor's office in Tokyo, shopping for skincare products, or just trying to tell someone your head hurts 🤕 – knowing body part vocabulary is essential! Japanese body parts include beautiful native words (和語 - wago) that have poetic origins you'll love learning.
Let's explore over 50 body part words that every Japanese learner needs! 🏃♀️
The Head & Face 顔 👤
Basic Face Parts
| Japanese | Reading | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 顔 | かお (kao) | face | Very common word! |
| 頭 | あたま (atama) | head | Also means "brain/mind" |
| 髪 | かみ (kami) | hair | Hair on head only |
| 髪の毛 | かみのけ (kaminoke) | hair (strands) | More specific |
| 額 / おでこ | ひたい / おでこ | forehead | おでこ is casual/cute |
| 眉毛 | まゆげ (mayuge) | eyebrow | 毛 = hair/fur |
Eyes & Nose
| Japanese | Reading | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 目 | め (me) | eye | Very basic kanji! |
| 瞳 | ひとみ (hitomi) | pupil | Also a girl's name |
| まつげ | まつげ | eyelash | Sometimes written 睫毛 |
| 鼻 | はな (hana) | nose | Same sound as "flower"! |
| 耳 | みみ (mimi) | ear | Cute doubled sound |
Mouth Area
| Japanese | Reading | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 口 | くち (kuchi) | mouth | Basic kanji! |
| 唇 | くちびる (kuchibiru) | lips | 唇 = mouth + edge |
| 歯 | は (ha) | tooth | 歯医者 = dentist |
| 舌 | した (shita) | tongue | Same word as "under" |
| 顎 | あご (ago) | chin/jaw | Less common but useful |
Other Face Features
| Japanese | Reading | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 頬 | ほお/ほっぺ (hoo/hoppe) | cheek | ほっぺ is cuter |
| しわ | しわ | wrinkle | Also for clothes |
| ほくろ | ほくろ | mole (beauty mark) | - |
| そばかす | そばかす | freckles | From "buckwheat seeds" |
The Upper Body 上半身 💪
Torso
| Japanese | Reading | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 体 | からだ (karada) | body | Very important word! |
| 首 | くび (kubi) | neck | Also means "fired" (slang) |
| 肩 | かた (kata) | shoulder | 肩こり = stiff shoulders |
| 背中 | せなか (senaka) | back | Literally "back-middle" |
| 胸 | むね (mune) | chest | Includes breasts |
| お腹 | おなか (onaka) | stomach/belly | Very common! |
| 腰 | こし (koshi) | lower back/waist | 腰痛 = back pain |
| へそ | へそ | belly button | Also written 臍 |
Arms & Hands
| Japanese | Reading | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 腕 | うで (ude) | arm | Full arm |
| 肘 | ひじ (hiji) | elbow | Less common |
| 手首 | てくび (tekubi) | wrist | Literally "hand-neck" |
| 手 | て (te) | hand | Super basic! |
| 指 | ゆび (yubi) | finger | Also used for toes! |
| 親指 | おやゆび (oyayubi) | thumb | "Parent finger" |
| 人差し指 | ひとさしゆび | index finger | "Pointing finger" |
| 中指 | なかゆび | middle finger | "Middle finger" |
| 薬指 | くすりゆび | ring finger | "Medicine finger" |
| 小指 | こゆび (koyubi) | pinky | "Little finger" |
| 爪 | つめ (tsume) | nail | Finger or toenail |
| 手のひら | てのひら | palm | "Palm of hand" |
The Lower Body 下半身 🦵
Legs & Feet
| Japanese | Reading | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 足 | あし (ashi) | leg/foot | Context determines which |
| 脚 | あし (ashi) | leg | More specifically "leg" |
| 太もも | ふともも (futomomo) | thigh | 太い = thick/fat |
| 膝 | ひざ (hiza) | knee | 膝枕 = lap pillow |
| ふくらはぎ | ふくらはぎ | calf | - |
| 足首 | あしくび (ashikubi) | ankle | "Foot-neck" |
| 足 | あし (ashi) | foot | Same as leg! |
| つま先 | つまさき (tsumasaki) | tiptoe/toe | Front of foot |
| かかと | かかと | heel | - |
| 足の指 | あしのゆび | toe | "Foot finger" |
| 足の裏 | あしのうら | sole of foot | "Bottom of foot" |
Internal Organs 内臓 🫀
For doctor visits and health discussions:
| Japanese | Reading | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 心臓 | しんぞう (shinzou) | heart (organ) | Not emotional heart! |
| 脳 | のう (nou) | brain | 脳みそ = brains |
| 肺 | はい (hai) | lungs | - |
| 肝臓 | かんぞう (kanzou) | liver | - |
| 胃 | い (i) | stomach | 胃が痛い = stomach hurts |
| 腸 | ちょう (chou) | intestines | - |
| 腎臓 | じんぞう (jinzou) | kidney | - |
| 骨 | ほね (hone) | bone | Very useful! |
| 血 | ち (chi) | blood | 血液 = blood (medical) |
| 筋肉 | きんにく (kinniku) | muscle | 筋トレ = weight training |
| 皮膚 | ひふ (hifu) | skin | Medical term |
| 肌 | はだ (hada) | skin | Daily use, beauty |
Useful Body Phrases 🗣️
At the Doctor / Pharmacy
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 〇〇が痛いです | __ ga itai desu | My __ hurts |
| 頭が痛いです | Atama ga itai desu | I have a headache |
| お腹が痛いです | Onaka ga itai desu | I have a stomachache |
| 喉が痛いです | Nodo ga itai desu | I have a sore throat |
| 腰が痛いです | Koshi ga itai desu | My lower back hurts |
| 熱があります | Netsu ga arimasu | I have a fever |
| 風邪をひきました | Kaze wo hikimashita | I caught a cold |
| ここが痛いです | Koko ga itai desu | It hurts here |
Daily Expressions
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 足が疲れた | Ashi ga tsukareta | My legs are tired |
| 目が痒い | Me ga kayui | My eyes are itchy |
| 肩がこっている | Kata ga kotte iru | I have stiff shoulders |
| 手を洗ってください | Te wo aratte kudasai | Please wash your hands |
| 体調が悪い | Taichou ga warui | I feel unwell |
| 背が高い | Se ga takai | Tall (height) |
| 髪を切りました | Kami wo kirimashita | I cut my hair |
Body Parts in Japanese Expressions 🎭
Japanese has many idioms using body parts!
Eye 目 (me)
| Expression | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 目が高い | me ga takai | Having good taste |
| 目から鱗 | me kara uroko | Scales falling from eyes (enlightenment) |
| 目が回る | me ga mawaru | Eyes spinning (very busy) |
Ear 耳 (mimi)
| Expression | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 耳が痛い | mimi ga itai | Ears hurt (don't want to hear truth) |
| 耳を疑う | mimi wo utagau | Doubt one's ears (disbelief) |
Stomach お腹 (onaka)
| Expression | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 腹が立つ | hara ga tatsu | Stomach rises (getting angry) |
| お腹が空いた | onaka ga suita | Stomach is empty (hungry!) |
| 腹を割る | hara wo waru | Split the stomach (speak honestly) |
Hand 手 (te)
| Expression | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 手が空く | te ga aku | Hands become free (have free time) |
| 手に入れる | te ni ireru | Put in hand (obtain) |
| お手上げ | oteage | Hands up (give up!) |
Body Counter Words 🔢
When counting body parts, use these counters:
| Counter | Reading | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| 〜本 | ~hon | Long thin things (fingers, arms, legs) |
| 〜個 | ~ko | Small round things (eyes, ears) |
| 〜枚 | ~mai | Flat things (tongue if joking) |
Examples:
- 指は十本あります (Yubi wa juppon arimasu) - I have 10 fingers
- 目は二個あります (Me wa niko arimasu) - I have 2 eyes
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say "my head hurts" naturally?
The most natural way is 頭が痛い (atama ga itai). For more polite situations, add です: 頭が痛いです (atama ga itai desu). At a doctor's office, you might say 頭痛がします (zutsuu ga shimasu) - "I have a headache."
Is there a difference between 足 for "leg" and "foot"?
Context usually makes it clear, but if you need to specify:
- Whole leg: 脚 (ashi) or 足全体 (ashi zentai)
- Just the foot: 足先 (ashisaki) or 足の部分 (ashi no bubun)
Why are fingers and toes both called 指 (yubi)?
Japanese groups them together! To distinguish, say 手の指 (te no yubi) for fingers and 足の指 (ashi no yubi) for toes.
What's the body vocabulary I'll need most for travel?
Focus on: 頭 (head), お腹 (stomach), 足 (legs), 喉 (throat) + the phrase 〇〇が痛いです (__ hurts). This covers most common ailments!
Conclusion: Know Your Body! 🏋️
Body vocabulary might not be the flashiest topic, but it's absolutely essential! From doctor visits to everyday expressions, these 50+ words will serve you in countless situations.
Key takeaways: ✅ 顔 (kao) = face, 頭 (atama) = head ✅ 足 (ashi) = both leg AND foot (context matters) ✅ 心臓 = physical heart, 心 = emotional heart ✅ Use 〇〇が痛い for "my __ hurts" ✅ Body idioms make you sound natural!
Your next step: These words use common kanji! Practice essential vocabulary with KanaDojo → to recognize body parts instantly!
体を大切に！💖 (Karada wo taisetsu ni!) Take care of your body!
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