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What is the Kanji for "Body" and "Somebody"?

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

The Japanese Kanji for "Body" and "Somebody" is "身".

This kanji has 2 readings:

Its kunyomi reading is "Mi".

Its onyomi reading is "Shin".

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 3 parts:

The kanji "自" means "Self" and can be read as "Ji", "Shi", and "Mizuka". The radical "丿" means "Katakana no" . And The radical "亅" means "Barb" .

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

What does the kanji "身" mean in japanese?

"身" means "Body" and "Somebody" .

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

Here are some words that use this kanji:

: "Body". The Japanese noun '身 (み)' means 'body'. This word is used to refer to the physical form or corporeal aspects of a person. It can be used to describe the whole body or specific parts of it. For example: My body is tired - (私の身は疲れている). I hurt my body - (私の身を傷つけた).
自身: "Self" or "Oneself". The Japanese noun '自身 (じしん)' can be translated as 'self' or 'oneself'. It refers to one's own person, character, or identity. This word is often used to emphasize one's own role, responsibility, or perspective in a situation. For example: I will do it myself - (自身で行います). She believes in herself - (自身を信じている).
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).
出身: "Origin". The noun '出身 (しゅっしん)' means 'origin'. It refers to the place where someone was born or has lived for a significant period of time. This word is commonly used to ask or talk about someone's hometown or native place. For example: What is your place of origin? - (あなたの出身はどこですか?). My origin is Tokyo - (私の出身は東京です).
刺身: "Sashimi". The Japanese noun '刺身 (さしみ)' refers to a Japanese dish of thinly sliced, fresh and raw fish or seafood. Sashimi is considered a delicacy in Japanese cuisine and is often presented artfully on a plate. It is commonly served as an appetizer or part of a larger meal. For example: I had delicious sashimi for dinner - (夕食に美味しい刺身を食べました).
全身: "Whole body". The noun '全身 (ぜんしん)' means 'whole body'. This word is used to refer to the entire physical structure of a person or animal, including all parts and organs. It can be used in various contexts, such as medical examinations, physical descriptions, or discussions about a person's health and well-being. For example: The doctor examined my whole body - (医者が私の全身を診察した). He has a strong, muscular whole body - (彼は強い筋肉質の全身を持っている).
身分: "Status". The Japanese noun '身分 (みぶん)' means 'status'. It refers to a person's standing, rank, or position in society. This word is often used to describe one's social, professional, or legal standing. For example: His high status in the company - (その会社での彼の高い身分). She comes from a family of high social status - (彼女は高い社会的地位の家庭から来ている).
中身: "Contents". The Japanese noun '中身 (なかみ)' refers to the contents or interior of something. It can be used to describe the substances, materials, or items that are inside an object, container, or space. This word is often used in contexts related to packages, packages, and other enclosed spaces where the contents are not immediately visible from the outside. For example: The contents of the box are still a mystery - (箱の中身はまだ謎だ). She checked the contents of her bag before leaving - (彼女はバッグの中身を確認してから出かけた).
受け身: "Passive". The noun '受け身 (うけみ)' refers to the passive voice in Japanese grammar, where the subject of the sentence receives the action rather than performing it. This grammatical structure is formed by adding certain auxiliary verbs to the verb stem. For example: The window was broken (by someone). - (窓が割られた). The passive voice is used to emphasize the action rather than the person performing it.
身近: "Close". The Japanese adjectival noun '身近 (みぢか)' means 'close'. It is used to describe something or someone that is close, nearby, or easily accessible. This word often carries a sense of personal connection or familiarity, such as close friends or a close relationship. For example: This issue is very close to my heart - (この問題は私にとって非常に身近だ). I have a close colleague who helps me a lot - (私には仕事で助けてくれる身近な同僚がいる).
半身: "Half body". The noun '半身 (はんしん)' refers to the upper or lower half of a person's body. It is commonly used to describe a person who is paralyzed or disabled on one side of their body. For example: He suffered a stroke and is now paralyzed on the left half of his body - (彼は脳卒中を起こし、左半身まひしています).
独身: "Single". The Japanese noun '独身 (どくしん)' means 'single'. This word refers to an unmarried person, someone who is not in a committed romantic relationship. The word can be used to describe both men and women who are not married. For example: She is still single - (彼女はまだ独身だ). I am a single person - (私は独身です).
心身: "Mind and body". The noun '心身 (しんしん)' refers to the combination of one's mental/psychological state (心) and physical/bodily state (身). It encapsulates the holistic idea that a person's well-being is dependent on both their mental and physical condition. For example: The training improved my mind and body - (その訓練は私の心身を向上させた). Maintaining good mental and physical health is important - (心身の健康を保つことが重要です).
身長: "Height". The Japanese noun '身長 (しんちょう)' means 'height'. This word refers to the measurement of how tall a person is. It is commonly used to describe one's physical stature or the vertical dimensions of an object. For example: My height is 170 cm - (私の身長は170センチです). The height of the building is impressive - (その建物の身長は印象的です).
身の回り: "Surroundings". The Japanese noun '身の回り (みのまわり)' means 'surroundings'. It refers to the immediate environment or setting around a person, including the objects, people, and conditions that encircle them. This word is commonly used to describe one's personal belongings, immediate environment, or close personal space. For example: Please keep your surroundings clean - (身の回りをきれいに保ちましょう). The surroundings of the house are very nice - (その家の身の回りはとてもきれいです).
身なり: "Appearance". The noun '身なり (みなり)' means 'appearance'. This word refers to the way a person looks, including their clothes, grooming, and overall style. It is used to describe someone's outward presentation and how they present themselves to the world. For example: Her appearance was very neat and tidy - (彼女の身なりは非常に整っていました). You should pay attention to your appearance before the interview - (面接の前に身なりに気をつけるべきです).
身振り: "Gesture". The noun '身振り (みぶり)' means 'gesture'. It refers to the movement of the body, hands, or facial expressions used to convey meaning or emphasis. Gestures are an important part of nonverbal communication in Japanese culture. For example: She made a gesture with her hands - (彼女は手で身振りをした). He used many gestures when speaking - (彼は話すときに多くの身振りを使った).

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 "し" is read as "shi". The hiragana "ん" is read as "n". And The hiragana "み" is read as "mi".