What is the Kanji for "Body"?

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for "Body", you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for "Body" is "体".

This kanji has 3 readings:

Its kunyomi reading is "Karada".

Its onyomi readings are "Tai" and "Tei".

kunyomi readings are based on the pronunciation of native Japanese words, and onyomi readings are based on the Chinese pronunciation of the character.

If you visually breakdown this kanji, you can see is made up of 2 parts:

The radical "亻" means "Person" . And The kanji "本" means "Book" and "Origin" and can be read as "Hon" and "Moto".

Now, let's make sure you understand this kanji the other way around too.

What does the kanji "体" mean in japanese?

"体" means "Body".

Japanese School Students learn this kanji in Second Grade, while foreigners may learn this kanji in preparation for the JLPT N4 exam.

Here are some words that use this kanji:

体: "Body". The Japanese noun '体 (からだ)' means 'body'. This word refers to the physical structure of a human or animal, including all of its parts. It is a very common and versatile word that can be used in many contexts. For example: My body hurts - (私の体が痛い). The athlete has a strong body - (その運動選手は強い体を持っている).

全体: "Whole". The noun '全体 (ぜんたい)' means 'whole'. It refers to the entirety or totality of something, as opposed to its parts or components. It can be used to describe physical objects, concepts, or systems. For example: The whole picture - (その絵の全体). The whole family gathered - (家族全体が集まった).

具体: "Concrete". The noun '具体 (ぐたい)' means 'concrete'. It refers to something that is real, tangible, and can be physically perceived, as opposed to abstract or theoretical concepts. This word is often used to describe physical objects, tangible examples, or practical applications. For example: The proposal includes concrete steps to improve efficiency - (この提案には効率性を改善するための具体的な方策が含まれている). I need more concrete information before I can make a decision - (私は決断する前にもっと具体的な情報が必要だ).

身体: "Body". The Japanese noun '身体 (しんたい)' refers to the physical body of a person or animal. It encompasses the entire physical structure and form, including the head, torso, limbs, and internal organs. This word is commonly used in contexts related to health, physical condition, and anatomy. For example: Her body is weak - (彼女の身体は弱い). I need to take care of my body - (私は自分の身体を大切にしなければならない).

自体: "Substance". The Japanese noun '自体 (じたい)' means 'substance'. It is used to refer to the fundamental nature or essence of something, often in a philosophical or abstract context. It can be used to describe the inherent or intrinsic properties of an object or concept. For example: The very substance of the problem - (問題の自体). The substance of his argument - (彼の議論の自体).

団体: "Group". The Japanese noun '団体 (だんたい)' refers to a formal or organized group of people. This can include various types of groups such as businesses, political organizations, advocacy groups, or other associations. The term conveys the idea of a cohesive unit or collective of individuals united by a common purpose or goal. For example: Our company is a large group - (私たちの会社は大きな団体です). The environmental group held a protest - (環境団体は抗議活動を行いました).

体制: "System" or "Regime". The Japanese noun '体制 (たいせい)' can refer to 'a system' or 'a regime'. This word is used to describe an established structure, organization or framework, often in the context of a government, political party, or other institutional body. It implies a structured and integrated way of operating. For example: The current political regime - (現在の政治体制). The company has a well-structured system - (その会社には整った体制がある).

具体的: "Concrete" or "Specific". The Japanese adjectival noun '具体的 (ぐたいてき)' has two main meanings. The first meaning is 'concrete', referring to something that is tangible, real, or material, as opposed to abstract or theoretical. The second meaning is 'specific', describing something precise, detailed, or particular. This word is often used to contrast with more general or conceptual ideas. Example sentences: This plan is very concrete - (この計画は非常に具体的です). The details provided were quite specific - (提供された詳細は非常に具体的でした).

主体: "Subject". The Japanese noun '主体 (しゅたい)' means 'subject'. It refers to the person, thing or entity that is the focus of an action or activity. It can be used to describe the central or key element in a situation. For example: The subject of the essay was Japanese history - (その論文の主体は日本史でした). The company is the subject of the investigation - (その会社が調査の主体です).

一体: "What" or "On earth". The adverb '一体 (いったい)' can be used to express a sense of wonder, surprise or confusion. It is often translated as 'what' or 'on earth' and is used to question or emphasize a statement. For example: What are you doing? - (一体何をしているの?). What on earth happened? - (一体何が起きたのだ?)

死体: "Corpse". The Japanese word '死体 (したい)' is a noun that means 'corpse'. It refers to the physical remains of a dead human body. This word is often used in medical, legal, or investigative contexts. For example: The police discovered a corpse in the alley - (警察は路地に死体を発見した). The medical examiner inspected the corpse - (検死官が死体を検査した).

肉体: "Body". The noun '肉体 (にくたい)' refers to the physical body of a person. It can be used to describe the corporeal, material aspect of a human being, as opposed to the mind or spirit. This word often carries connotations of the body's physical needs, functions, or mortality. For example: My body aches today - (私の肉体が痛い今日). The human body is amazing - (人間の肉体は驚くべきものだ).

体系: "System". The noun '体系 (たいけい)' refers to a 'system' - an organized set of interconnected components or elements that work together to achieve a particular goal or purpose. This word is used to describe various organized frameworks, structures, or procedures that function as a unified whole. For example: The company has an efficient accounting system - (会社は効率的な会計体系を持っている). This university has a well-developed educational system - (この大学には確立された教育体系がある).

体重: "Weight". The Japanese noun '体重 (たいじゅう)' refers to the overall mass or heaviness of a person or an object. It can be used to describe one's body weight or the weight of any physical item. For example: My weight is 60 kilograms - (私の体重は60キロです). The box weighs 5 pounds - (その箱の体重は5ポンドです).

体力: "Stamina". The noun '体力 (たいりょく)' refers to a person's physical strength, endurance and vigor. It represents the overall capacity of the body to perform and withstand physical exertion and activity. This concept is important in sports, physical labor, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For example: She has great stamina and can run for a long time - (彼女は体力がすごくて、長い間走れる). My job requires a lot of physical stamina - (私の仕事は体力がとても必要です).

液体: "Liquid". The Japanese noun '液体 (えきたい)' refers to a substance in a liquid state. This includes various fluids such as water, oil, alcohol, etc. It is the opposite of a solid or gaseous state. Liquids have no fixed shape but take the shape of the container they are in. Examples: Water is a liquid - (水は液体です). The liquid spilled on the table - (テーブルに液体がこぼれた).

体質: "Constitution". The noun '体質 (たいしつ)' refers to a person's physical constitution or natural disposition. It encompasses an individual's innate physical characteristics, such as their overall health, susceptibility to certain conditions, or tendency towards certain traits. For example: My constitution is delicate - (私の体質は繊細です). She has a strong constitution - (彼女は強い体質だ).

解体: "Dismantling". The noun '解体 (かいたい)' means 'dismantling'. It refers to the act of taking something apart, often a structure or machine, into its component parts. This word is commonly used in the context of construction, engineering, or industrial processes where disassembling an object is necessary for repair, replacement, or disposal. For example: The old building underwent a complete dismantling - (その老朽建物は完全に解体された). The mechanic will need to perform a thorough dismantling of the engine - (整備士はエンジンを徹底的に解体する必要がある).

大体: "Roughly" or "About". The adverb '大体 (だいたい)' can mean 'roughly' or 'about'. It is used to indicate that a quantity or description is an approximation rather than an exact figure. For example: It's raining roughly 20 minutes a day - (1日大体20分雨が降っています). The company has about 500 employees - (会社は大体500人の従業員がいます).

体内: "Interior" or "Inside of body". The Japanese noun '体内 (たいない)' refers to the 'interior' or 'inside of the body'. It is used to describe the internal parts or space within a person or animal's physical body. For example: The medicine circulates within the body - (薬は体内を循環する). Checking the interior of the body - (体内を検査する)

体格: "Build". The Japanese noun '体格 (たいかく)' refers to a person's physical build or frame. It describes the overall size, shape, and proportions of a person's body. This word is commonly used to talk about someone's general appearance and physique, such as whether they are tall and muscular or short and slender. For example: He has a large build - (彼は体格がいい). She has a petite build - (彼女は体格が小さい).

実体: "Substance" or "Reality". The Japanese noun '実体 (じったい)' can mean either 'substance' or 'reality'. As 'substance', it refers to the physical or tangible nature of something, the material that makes up an object. As 'reality', it means something that is actual, true, and verifiable, as opposed to something imagined or hypothetical. Examples: The substance of the chair is wood - (その椅子の実体は木です). This is the reality of the situation - (これが事態の実体です).

物体: "Object". The Japanese noun '物体 (ぶったい)' means 'object'. It refers to a physical, tangible entity or thing. '物体' can be used to describe any kind of material object, whether it is natural or man-made. For example: That object is made of wood - (あの物体は木製だ). The object on the table is a cup - (テーブルの上にある物体はコップです).

遺体: "Body". The Japanese noun '遺体 (いたい)' refers to a dead body or the physical remains of a person after their death. It is a more formal and respectful term than 'shigai' (死骸) which can be seen as more vulgar or insensitive. '遺体' is typically used in formal contexts such as news reports or official documents. For example: The body was identified by the police - (遺体は警察によって身元が確認された). The funeral home received the body - (葬儀屋は遺体を受け取った).

体験: "Experience". The Japanese verbal noun '体験 (たいけん)' means 'experience'. This noun refers to a personal encounter, event or activity that someone participates in and gains knowledge or understanding from. It can be used to describe both positive and negative experiences. For example: I had the experience of traveling abroad - (私は海外旅行を体験しました). Going to the concert was a great experience - (コンサートに行くのは素晴らしい体験でした).

個体: "Individual". The noun '個体 (こたい)' means 'individual'. This word refers to a single, distinct member or unit of a species, group, or class, as opposed to the group or population as a whole. It can be used to describe a single animal, plant, or even a person. For example: Each individual has a unique personality - (一個体ごとに性格が異なる). The individual animal stands out from the herd - (個体が群れから際立つ).

体温計: "Thermometer". The Japanese noun '体温計 (たいおんけい)' refers to a thermometer, a device used to measure body temperature. It is commonly used in medical settings or at home to monitor a person's health. For example: I need to use the thermometer to check my temperature - (体温を計るためにthermometerを使わなければいけません).

体温: "Body temperature". The Japanese noun '体温 (たいおん)' refers to the internal temperature of the human or animal body. It is an important indicator of health and is closely monitored, especially in medical settings. The normal range for human body temperature is typically between 36-37°C (97-99°F). An abnormal body temperature can be a sign of illness or infection. For example: Her body temperature is high - (彼女の体温が高い). Check the patient's body temperature - (患者の体温をチェックしてください).

体調: "Condition". The Japanese noun '体調 (たいちょう)' refers to one's physical condition or state of health. It is used to describe how well or unwell someone is feeling. This term can be used in a variety of contexts, such as when talking about a person's current state of health, or when discussing any changes or issues with their physical well-being. For example: My condition is not good - (体調がよくありません). The teacher's condition is poor today - (先生の体調が今日は良くありません).

正体: "True form". The Japanese noun '正体 (しょうたい)' refers to a person or thing's true identity, nature or essence. It suggests the actual, real or underlying nature of something, which may be hidden or disguised. For example: I want to know your true form - (あなたの正体を知りたい). The criminal's true form was revealed - (犯人の正体が明らかになった).

体育: "Physical education". The Japanese noun '体育 (たいいく)' means 'physical education'. It refers to the academic subject that involves physical activities, exercises, and sports. '体育' classes are an important part of education in Japan, teaching students about health, fitness, and teamwork. For example: I have physical education class today - (今日は体育の授業です). Physical education is a required subject - (体育は必修科目です).

体操: "Gymnastics". The Japanese noun '体操 (たいそう)' refers to the sport of gymnastics, which involves physical exercises and movements performed on different apparatuses, such as the balance beam, uneven bars, and floor. It is a competitive sport that requires strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. The term can also be used to describe any type of physical exercise or calisthenics. For example: I practice gymnastics every day - (私は毎日体操を練習しています). Gymnastics is a popular sport - (体操は人気のスポーツです).

半導体: "Semiconductor". The noun '半導体 (はんどうたい)' refers to a semiconductor, which is a material that has electrical properties that are intermediate between those of conductors and insulators. Semiconductors are widely used in electronic devices, such as transistors, integrated circuits, and solar cells. They are the fundamental building blocks of modern electronics and have enabled the development of many technological innovations. For example: Semiconductors are essential for computers - (半導体はコンピューターに不可欠だ). Silicon is a common semiconductor material - (シリコンは一般的な半導体材料だ).

本体: "Main body". The Japanese noun '本体 (ほんたい)' refers to the main or essential part of something. It is used to describe the primary, central or fundamental component of an object, device or system. For example: The main body of the computer - (コンピューターの本体). This is the key or principal part, as opposed to peripheral devices or accessories. '本体' conveys the core, integral and principal component of an item.

To make really sure you learn this Kanji, I've prepared an interactive lesson for you. You are going to learn the readings and meanings of this kanji.

But first, you need to know a little bit about Hiragana and Katakana.

Hiragana and katakana are japanese syllabaries, this means that each character represents a syllable.

This are the characters you need to know for this lesson:

The hiragana "た" is read as "ta". The hiragana "い" is read as "i". The hiragana "て" is read as "te". The hiragana "か" is read as "ka". The hiragana "ら" is read as "ra". And The hiragana "だ" is read as "da".

Heres a quick tutorial on how to use it. You'll be asked three type of questions: meaning, reading, and writing.

For meanings questions all you have to do is type the english meaning. If there is more than one meaning, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Reading questions you have to type the reading in romaji (roman letters, our normal alphabet) and it'll be automatically converted to hiragana if necessary. If there is more than one reading, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Writing questions some options will appear and all you have to do is select the correct ones.