Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes: Body Parts in Japanese : Welcome to the wonderful world of body parts! Today we’re going to start from the top of our heads (atama) and move all the way down to our feet (ashi) in our journey to learn the essential body parts in Japanese!
Contents
Body Parts in Japanese
The human body 体 (karada) is divided into five major parts:
- The head 頭 (atama)
- Neck 首(kubi)
- Torso 胴体 (dōtai)
- Arms and hands 腕と手 (ude to te)
- Legs and feet 脚と足 (ashi to ashi) (Note that these two words are pronounced the same but have different kanji.)
- The Head 頭 (Atama):
The very top of our head is where we find our scalp 頭の皮 (tōhi). Our scalp is the place where our hair 髪 (kami) grows. It is also the place under which lies our brain 脳 (nō), or more colloquially 脳みそ (nōmiso).
As we travel downward from our scalp to the front of our head, we arrive at our face 顔 (kao). At the top of our face is the forehead おでこ (odeko). In the center are the eyebrows 眉毛 (mayu-ge), eyes 目 (me), and nose 鼻 (hana). To the sides are the cheeks ほほ (hoho) and ears 耳 (mimi). At the bottom are the mouth 口 (kuchi) and chin/jaw あご (ago).
Taking a closer look at the mouth, we have four main parts: 1. The lips 唇 (kuchibiru), 2. Gums 歯肉 (shiniku), 3. Teeth 歯 (ha), and 4. Tongue 舌 (shita).
From top to bottom, it looks like this:
- SCALP 頭皮 (TŌHI)
- Hair 髪 (kami)
- Brain 脳 (nō)
- FACE 顔 (KAO)
- Forehead おでこ (odeko)
- Eyebrows 眉毛 (mayu-ge)
- Eyes 目 (me)
- Nose 鼻 (hana)
- Cheeks ほほ (hoho)
- -Ears 耳 (mimi)
- Mouth 口 (kuchi)
- Lips 唇 (kuchibiru)
- Gums 歯肉 (shiniku)
- Teeth 歯 (ha)
- Tongue 舌 (shita)
- Chin/Jaw あご (ago)
Body Parts:The Neck 首 (Kubi):
The spinal cord 脊髄 (sekizui) supports the head and travels downward to form a further support system for the head called the neck (kubi).
When we eat or drink, food and liquid enter through our mouths, travel over our tongue, slip down our throat 喉 (nodo), and travel further down toward our stomach via our esophagus 食道 (shokudō).
Another prominent feature of our neck is our Adam’s Apple 喉仏 (nodobotoke), which is responsible for protecting and supporting our vocal cords, or larynx, 喉頭 (kōtō).
Therefore, the main components that make up our neck are these:
- NECK 首 (KUBI)
- Spinal cord 脊髄 (sekizui)
- Throat 喉 (nodo)
- Esophagus 食道 (shokudō)
- Adam’s Apple 喉仏 (nodobotoke)
- Vocal cords 喉頭 (kōtō)
Body Parts:The Torso 胴体 (Dōtai)
Below the neck, we come to the large area in the middle of our body that connects everything together. This place also houses many of our largest organs 内臓 (nai-zō). (Notice, that when referring to internal organs, the kanji 臓 (zō) is attached in many cases.)
In our upper torso, we have our chest/breasts 胸 (mune). Inside of our chest is our rib cage 胸郭 (kyōkaku), which protects our lungs 肺臓 (hai-zō) and heart 心臓 (shinzō).
In our lower torso, we have our abdomen 腹 (hara), or お腹 (o-naka). These are the words used in phrases like these:
- I’m hungry 腹減った (Hara hetta)
- I’m hungry お腹空いた (o-naka suita)
- My stomach hurts お腹痛い (o-naka itai)
Also featured on our abdomen near our waist/hips 腰 (koshi) is our belly button, or navel お臍 (o-heso). In addition, if we’re exceptionally fit, our six-pack abs are on display here as well. The word for “abdominal muscles” is 腹筋 (fukkin); so, if we want to say, “I have six-pack abs,” we say, “Watashi wa fukkin ga warete imasu.”
Inside of our abdomen is where four of our largest internal organs reside: 1. The liver 肝臓 (kan-zō), 2. Stomach 胃 (i), 3. Kidneys 腎臓 (jin-zō), and 4. Intestines 腸 (chō). For women, this is also the area where the uterus 子宮 (shikyuu) and ovaries 卵巣 (ransō) are housed.
And supporting all of these in an upright manner, as well as the rest of our body, is the spinal cord making up our back 背中 (senaka).
Therefore, here is a list of the body parts found in our torso from top to bottom:
- CHEST 胸 (MUNE)
- Rib cage 胸郭 (kyōkaku)
- Lungs 肺臓 (hai-zō)
- Heart 心臓 (shinzō)
- ABDOMEN 腹 (HARA)
- Liver 肝臓 (kan-zō)
- Stomach 胃 (i)
- Kidneys 腎臓 (jin-zō)
- Intestines 腸 (chō).
For women:
- Uterus 子宮 (shikyuu)
- Ovaries 卵巣 (ransō)
- BACK 背中 (SENAKA)
- Spinal cord 脊髄 (sekizui)
Body Parts:Arms and Hands 腕と手 (Ude to Te)
Connected to the upper torso near the chest are our shoulders 肩 (kata), which connect to our arms 腕 (ude). The arms then extend down to our elbows 肘 (hiji), wrists 手首 (te-kubi), and hands 手 (te).
Our hands are comprised of five fingers 手指 (te-yubi): 1. The thumb 親指 (oya-yubi), 2. Index finger 人さし指 (hito-sashi-yubi), 3. Middle finger 中指 (naka-yubi), 4. Ring finger 薬指 (kusuri-yubi), and 5. Pinky 小指 (ko-yubi).
(The kanji for the fingers above have these literal meanings: 1. “Family finger,” 2. “Finger for pointing at people,” 3. “Middle finger,” 4. “Medicine finger,” and 5. “Small finger.”)
Therefore, here is a list of the body parts comprising the arms and hands:
- ARMS 腕 (UDE)
- Shoulders 肩 (kata)
- Elbows 肘 (hiji)
- Wrists 手首 (te-kubi)
- HANDS 手 (TE)
- Fingers 手指 (te-yubi)
- Thumb 親指 (oya-yubi)
- Index finger 人さし指 (hito-sashi-yubi)
- Middle finger 中指 (naka-yubi)
- Ring finger 薬指 (kusuri-yubi)
- Pinky 小指 (ko-yubi)
Body Parts:Legs and Feet 脚と足 (Ashi to Ashi)
Connected to the lower part of the torso are the legs 脚 (ashi), which extend down to the thighs 腿 (momo), knees 膝 (hiza), ankles 足首 (ashi-kubi), and feet 足 (ashi). The feet are comprised of toes 足指 (ashi-yubi)—literally, “foot fingers.”
- LEGS 脚 (ASHI)
- Thighs 腿 (momo)
- Knees 膝 (hiza)
- Ankles 足首 (ashi-kubi)
- Feet 足 (ashi)
- Toes 足指 (ashi-yubi)
So, there you have it, a useful list of the different parts of the human body! Next time you’re at the doctor’s office or in a situation where you need to know the names of body parts, you’re covered!
Now, it’s time to get out there and use what you’ve learned.
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