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What is the Kanji for 'Body' and 'Self'? | 身

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

The Japanese Kanji for 'Body' and 'Self' is 身.

    kanji

    身

    Meaning

    Body, Self

    Reading

    kunyomiみ

    mi

    onyomiしん

    shin

    Parts

    自Self 丿Katakana no 亅Barb

    Example Word

    身: body. The Japanese noun '身 (み)' primarily means 'body'. It refers to the physical form of a person or animal. However, it can also be used metaphorically to refer to one's self or one's life. For example: protect your body「身を守りなさい」(みをまもりなさい). He risked his life「彼は身を危険にさらした」(かれはみをきけんにさらした). Additionally, '身' can sometimes refer to the flesh of fruits or the edible part of something, as in 'the flesh of the fruit is sweet「果物の身は甘い」(くだもののみはあまい)'. This word is versatile and context-dependent, so its meaning can shift slightly based on usage.

    Radical

    身

    Stroke Count

    7

    Grade

    3

    Frequency

    64

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji 身

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 3 parts:

    kanji

    自

    Meaning

    Self

    radical

    丿

    Meaning

    Katakana no

    radical

    亅

    Meaning

    Barb

身 As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of one other kanji:

    kanji

    射

    Meaning

    Shoot

Words Using 身

This kanji is used in 17 words:

    word

    心身

    Meaning

    Mind body

    word

    刺身

    Meaning

    Sashimi

    word

    独身

    Meaning

    Single

    word

    身分

    Meaning

    Status

    word

    身の回り

    Meaning

    Surroundings, Belongings

    word

    出身

    Meaning

    Origin

    word

    身長

    Meaning

    Height

    word

    受け身

    Meaning

    Passive, Defenselessness

    word

    全身

    Meaning

    Whole body

    word

    中身

    Meaning

    Contents

    word

    身振り

    Meaning

    Gesture

    word

    身近

    Meaning

    Close

    word

    自身

    Meaning

    Self

    word

    身

    Meaning

    Body

    word

    身なり

    Meaning

    Appearance

    word

    身体

    Meaning

    Body

    word

    半身

    Meaning

    Half body

Kanji Related to 身 Through the Part 自

These 5 kanji contain the part 自 as well.

    kanji

    息

    Meaning

    Breath

    kanji

    首

    Meaning

    Neck

    kanji

    鼻

    Meaning

    Nose

    kanji

    憩

    Meaning

    Rest

    kanji

    臭

    Meaning

    Stinking, Bad smell

Kanji Related to 身 Through the Part 丿

These 31 kanji contain the part 丿 as well.

    kanji

    自

    Meaning

    Self

    kanji

    少

    Meaning

    Few

    kanji

    女

    Meaning

    Woman

    kanji

    介

    Meaning

    Mediate, Jammed in

    kanji

    八

    Meaning

    Eight

    kanji

    川

    Meaning

    River

    kanji

    月

    Meaning

    Moon, Month

    kanji

    失

    Meaning

    Lose, Fault

    kanji

    寿

    Meaning

    Longevity, Congratulations

    kanji

    赤

    Meaning

    Red

    kanji

    心

    Meaning

    Heart

    kanji

    卑

    Meaning

    Mean, Lowly

    kanji

    人

    Meaning

    Person

    kanji

    向

    Meaning

    Facing, Yonder

    kanji

    弟

    Meaning

    Younger brother

    kanji

    番

    Meaning

    Turn

    kanji

    千

    Meaning

    Thousand

    kanji

    乏

    Meaning

    Scanty, Scarce

    kanji

    九

    Meaning

    Nine

    kanji

    手

    Meaning

    Hand

    kanji

    才

    Meaning

    Talent, Age (counter)

    kanji

    刀

    Meaning

    Sword

    kanji

    先

    Meaning

    Before, Previous

    kanji

    毛

    Meaning

    Fur

    kanji

    入

    Meaning

    Enter

    kanji

    血

    Meaning

    Blood

    kanji

    白

    Meaning

    White

    kanji

    羞

    Meaning

    Feel ashamed

    kanji

    朱

    Meaning

    Vermillion

    kanji

    必

    Meaning

    Inevitable, Certain

    kanji

    力

    Meaning

    Power

Kanji Related to 身 Through the Part 亅

These 13 kanji contain the part 亅 as well.

    kanji

    小

    Meaning

    Small

    kanji

    月

    Meaning

    Moon, Month

    kanji

    寸

    Meaning

    Measurement

    kanji

    争

    Meaning

    Dispute

    kanji

    赤

    Meaning

    Red

    kanji

    竹

    Meaning

    Bamboo

    kanji

    門

    Meaning

    Gate

    kanji

    事

    Meaning

    Thing

    kanji

    手

    Meaning

    Hand

    kanji

    才

    Meaning

    Talent, Age (counter)

    kanji

    予

    Meaning

    Beforehand

    kanji

    丁

    Meaning

    Street

    kanji

    水

    Meaning

    Water

Learn the Kanji 身

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 身 mean?

身 means 'Body' and 'Self'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Third Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.