Vocabulary List
体 (karada)
From head to toe — the vocabulary doctors, gym instructors, and everyday conversation rely on.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 頭 | atama | head |
| 顔 | kao | face |
| 目 | me | eye |
| 耳 | mimi | ear |
| 鼻 | hana | nose |
| 口 | kuchi | mouth |
| 歯 | ha | tooth |
| 首 | kubi | neck |
| 肩 | kata | shoulder |
| 腕 | ude | arm |
| 手 | te | hand |
| 指 | yubi | finger |
| 足 | ashi | leg / foot |
| 膝 | hiza | knee |
| 背中 | senaka | back |
| お腹 | onaka | stomach |
| 心臓 | shinzō | heart |
| 体 | karada | body |
Body-part kanji show up constantly in Japanese idioms. 腹が立つ (hara ga tatsu, literally "the stomach stands up") means "to get angry." 顔が広い (kao ga hiroi, "to have a wide face") means "to be well-connected." 耳が痛い (mimi ga itai, "the ears hurt") describes hearing an uncomfortable truth about yourself. Learning these kanji opens the door to dozens of expressions that don't translate literally but make perfect sense once you know the imagery behind them.
Our kana trainers build the reading speed you need before tackling kanji-heavy text.