Body Parts in Japanese – Every Term from Head to Toe

In this lesson, we learn how to say the different body parts in Japanese.

We use many words related to the body and body parts to describe a person or an individual’s health condition. Also, knowing the body parts in Japanese helps you to start using idioms like native speakers. More of that later!

Introduction to Body Parts in Japanese

Once you learn the body parts in Japanese, you no longer feel uncomfortable describing someone you know in detail or explaining your health condition in the hospital.

Let’s extend your Japanese body parts vocabulary with us today and start using them!

“Body” in Japanese

To start, let us first know how to say “body” in Japanese.

• からだ (Karada | 体、身体 | body)

“Heart” in Japanese

Often associated with love, compassion, and kindness, here’s how you say “heart” in Japanese.

• こころ (Kokoro | 心 | heart, mind, spirit)

Japanese Body Parts Vocabulary

Learning the basic body parts in Japanese is an important step in mastering the language. With this list, you can easily expand your Japanese vocabulary and improve your language skills.

Head and Face

Below are the different body parts in Japanese, focusing on the topmost part of the body, the head, and face.

• あたま (Atama | 頭 | head)
• かみ (Kami | 髪 | hair)
• かお (Kao | 顔 | face)
• ひたい (Hitai | 額 | forehead)
• まゆ (Mayu | 眉 | eyebrow)
• め (Me | 目 | eye)
• ほお (Hoo | 頬 | cheek)
• はな (Hana | 鼻 | nose)
• はなのあな (Hana no ana | 鼻の孔、鼻の穴 | nostril)
• みみ (Mimi | 耳 | ear)
• くち (Kuchi | 口 | mouse)
• くちびる (Kuchibiru | 唇 | lips)
• した (Shita | 舌 | tongue)
• は (Ha | 歯 | tooth)
• あご (Ago | 顎 | chin, jaw)

Neck, Shoulder, and Upper Body

Here is a list of Japanese vocabulary for the upper body, including the neck and shoulders.

• くび (Kubi | 首 | neck)
• のど (Nodo | 喉 | throat)
• のどぼとけ (Nodo botoke | 喉仏 | Adam’s apple)
• うなじ (Unaji | 項 | nape)
• かた (Kata | 肩 | shoulder)
• わき、わきのした (Waki, Waki no shita | 脇/腋、脇の下/腋下 | armpit, underarm)
• うで (Ude | 腕 | arm)
• ひじ (Hiji | 肘 | elbow)
• てくび (Te kubi | 手首 | wrist)
• て (Te | 手 | hand)
• てのこう (Te no kou | 手の甲 | back of hand)
• てのひら (Te no hira | 手の平 | palm)
• つめ (Tsume | 爪 | nail)
• むね (Mune | 胸 | chest, breast)
• せなか (Senaka | 背中 | back)
• はら (Hara | 腹 | belly, stomach, abdomen)
• わきばら (Waki bara | 脇腹 | ribs, one’s side)
• したばら (Shita bara | 下腹 | lower abdomen)
• こし (Koshi | 腰 | back, lower back)
• へそ (Heso | 臍 | belly button)
• ゆび (Yubi | 指 | finger)

Hip, Leg, and Lower Body

These are the Japanese terms for body parts located in the lower half of your body, such as the hip and legs.

• こし (Koshi | 腰 | back, lower back)
• しり (Shiri | 尻 | buttocks)
• こうもん (Koumon | 肛門 | anus)
• あし (Ashi | 脚 | leg)
• あし (Ashi | 足 | foot)
• もも (Momo | 腿 | thigh)
• ひざ (Hiza | 膝 | knee)
• ひざのさら (Hiza no sara | 膝の皿 | kneecap)
• ふくらはぎ (Fukurahagi | 脹脛 | calf)
• すね (Sune | 脛 | shin)
• あしくび (Ashikubi | | ankle)
• くるぶし (Kurubushi | 踝 | ankle)
• つまさき (Tsuasaki | つま先 | toe)
• かかと (Kakato | 踵 | heel)
• つちふまず (Tsuchi fumazu | 土踏まず | arch of foot)
• あしのうら (Ashi no ura | 足の裏 | sole)

Body

Here is a list of various parts of the body, including the upper and lower body, torso, and limbs.

• からだ (Karada | 体、身体 | body)
• しんたい (Shintai | 身体 | body)
• からだのぶい (Karada no bui | 体の部位、身体の部位 | body part)
• じょうはんしん (Jou hanshin | 上半身 | upper body)
• かはんしん (Ka hanshin | 下半身 | lower body)
• どう、どうたい (Dou, Dou tai | 胴、胴体 | torso, body)
• しし (Shishi | 四肢 | limb)

Internal Human Body Parts in Japanese

Internal organs are called ないぞう (Naizou | 内蔵 | Organ) in Japanese.

• のう (Nou | 脳 | brain)
• こうじょうせん (Koujousen | 甲状腺 | thyroid)
• きかん (Kikan | 気管 | trachea)
• しょくどう (Shokudou | 食道 | esophagus)
• せきずい (Sekizui | 脊髄 | spinal cord)
• はい (Hai | 肺 | lung)
• しんぞう (Shinzou | 心臓 | heart)
• い (I | 胃 | stomach)
• たんのう (Tannou | 胆のう、胆嚢 | gull bladder)
• すいぞう (Suizou | すい臓、膵臓 | pancreas)
• かんぞう (Kanzou | 肝臓 | liver)
• じんぞう (Jinzou | 腎臓 | kidney)
• だいちょう (Daichou | 大腸 | large intestine)
• しょうちょう (Shouchou | 小腸 | small intestine)
• ぼうこう (Boukou | 膀胱 | bladder)
• しきゅう (Shikyuu | 子宮 | uterus, womb)
• ぜんりつせん (Zenritsusen | 前立腺 | prostate gland)

Extended Body Parts Vocabulary in Japanese

Knowing these words in detail can help you explain sensations or injuries accurately and can be useful when consulting a doctor or getting medical care.

Fingers

Get your fingers ready for some fun! Here are the different parts of the hand in Japanese.

• ゆび (Yubi | 指 | finger)
• てのゆび (Te no yubi | 手の指 | finger)
• あしのゆび (Ash no yubi | 足の指 | toe)
• おやゆび (Oya yubi | 親指 | thumb)
• ひとさしゆび (Hitosashi yubi | 人差し指 | index finger)
• なかゆび (Naka yubi | 中指 | middle finger)
• くすりゆび (Kusuri yubi | 薬指 | ring finger)
• こゆび (Ko yubi | 小指 | little finger)

Muscles, Bones, and Joints

If you ever suffer from muscle sprains, this list could come in handy.

• ほね (Hone | 骨 | bone)
• きんにく (Kinniku | 筋肉 | muscle)
• かんせつ (Kansetsu | 関節 | joint)
• けん (Ken | 腱 | tendon)
• さこつ (Sakotsu | 鎖骨 | clavivle)
• けんこうこつ (Kenkou kotsu | 肩甲骨 | shoulder blade, scapula)
• ろっこつ (Rokkotsu | 肋骨 | ribs)
• こつばん (Kotsuban | 骨盤 | pelvis)
• こかんせつ (Ko kansetsu | 股関節 | hip joint, coxa)
• アキレスけん (Akiresu ken | アキレス腱 | Achilles tendon)

Eyes

This list will help you learn the names of different parts of the eyes in Japanese.

• まぶた (Mabuta | 瞼 | eyelid)
• めがしら (Megashira | 目頭 | the inner corner of the eye)
• めじり (Mejiri | 目尻 | the outer corner of the eye)
• るいせん (Ruisen | 涙腺 | lacrimal gland)
• なみだぶくろ (Namida bukuro | 涙袋 | eye bag)
• しろめ (Shirome | 白目 | the white of the eye)
• どうこう、ひとみ (Doukou, Hitomi | 瞳孔、瞳 | pupil)
• くろめ、こうさい (Kurome, Kousai | 黒目、虹彩 | iris)

Common Kanji Radical for Japanese Body Parts Vocabulary

The Japanese language has ひらがな (Hiragana | 平仮名), カタカナ (Katakana | 片仮名), and かんじ (Kanji | 漢字 | Chinese characters), so don’t forget to grasp how it’s written when you learn Japanese body parts vocabulary.

• 月: にくづき (Nikuzuki | 肉づき| literally, “flesh moon”) → 脳、腕、脚
• 口: くち、くちへん (Kuchi, Kuchihen | 口、口へん | mouth) → 口、舌、喉仏
• 目: め、めへん (Me | 目、目へん | eye) → 目、瞳孔、眼球
• 頁: おおがい (Oogai | 大貝、頁 | shell) → 頭、顔、頚椎

Our article on the Japanese Alphabet is your key to unlocking the world of Japanese characters. Check that one out later!

Singular/Plural/One/Both for Body Parts

The Japanese language does not have a difference between “tooth and teeth” or “arm and arms” like in English.

Example

• は (Ha | 歯 | tooth, teeth)
• あし (Ashi | 脚 | leg, legs)

However, you can mean “one side” with the Kanji かた (Kata | 片) and “both sides” with りょう (Ryou | 両).

Example

• て (Te | 手 | hand)
• かたて (kata te | 片手 | one hand)
• りょうて ( (Ryou te | 両手 | both hands)
• ひざ (Hiza | 膝 | knee)
• かたひざ (Kata hiza | 片膝 | one knee)
• りょうひざ (Ryou hiza | 両膝 | both knees)

Casual/Formal Words for Body Parts in Japanese

Japanese people may use alternative body parts words in Japanese depending on who they are talking to and the situation.

Casual Word

Use these words with people you’re close to.

• おでこ (O deko | おデコ | forehead)
• ほっぺ、ほっぺた (Hoppe | 頬っぺ、頬っぺた | cheek)
• べろ (Bero | ベロ | tongue)
• ひざこぞう (Hiza kozou | 膝小僧 | knee)
• むだげ (Muda ge | ムダ毛、むだ毛 | unwanted hair)

Formal Word

These words are safe to use with anyone.

• おからだ (O karada | お体、お身体、御身体 | one’s body)
• おんみ (On mi | 御身 | one’s body)
• おみあし (O miashi | おみ足、御足 | one’s leg or foot)
• おて (O te | お手、御手 | one’s hand)
• ごそんがん (Go songan | ご尊顔 | one’s countenance)
• たいもう (Taimou | 体毛 | body hair)

Hair for Different Body Parts

This list can be helpful for communication during a visit to a beauty salon.

• かみのけ (Kami no ke | 髪の毛 | Hair)
• まゆげ (Mayu ge | 眉毛 | eyebrow)
• まつげ (Matsu ge | 睫毛 | eyelash)
• はなげ (Hana ge | 鼻毛 | nostril hair)
• わきげ (Waki ge | 腋毛、脇毛 | armpit hair)
• ひげ (Hige | 髭、髯 | beard, mustache)
• うぶげ (Ubu ge | 産毛 | downy hair)

Health Conditions in Japanese

Expressing our health problems is very challenging while we learn a new language.

Here are the common phrases and words to describe your health conditions and related worries with body parts in Japanese.

Skin Conditions in Japanese

If you are planning to visit a dermatologist in Japan, this list of vocabulary related to skin and its conditions may be helpful for you.

• そばかす (Sobakasu | ソバカス、雀斑 | freckle)
• ほくろ (Hokuro | 黒子 | mole)
• あざ (Aza | 痣 | bruise, birthmark)
• にきび (Nikibi | ニキビ、面皰 | pimple, acne)
• いぼ (Ibo | イボ、疣 | warts)
• しわ (Shiwa | 皺 | wrinkle)
• たるみ (Tarumi | 弛み、緩み | sag)
• しみ (Shimi | シミ | spot, freckle)

Sentences for Health Conditions in Japanese

Here are other conditions that you can use if you’re feeling something.

• あたまがいたい (Atama ga itai | 頭が痛い | I have a headache)
• のどがいたい (Nodo ga itai | 喉が痛い | I have a sore throat)
• はきけがする (Hakike ga suru | 吐き気がする | I feel nauseous)
• からだがだるい (Karada ga darui | 体がだるい | I feel tired)
• ねつがある (Netsu ga aru | 熱がある | I have a fever)
• はなぢがでる (Hanaji ga deru | 鼻血が出る | My noses are bleeding)
• あしがしびれる (Ashi ga shibireru | 足が痺れる | My leg fell asleep)
• めにしみる (Me ni shimiru | 目に沁みる | It burns my eyes)
• しょくよくがない (Shokuyoku ga nai | 食欲がない | I have no appetite)
• きんにくつになる (Kinniku tsuu ni naru | 筋肉痛になる | I have muscle pain)
• はだがかゆかゆくてはれている (Hada ga kayukute hareteiru | 肌が痒くて腫れている | My skin is itchy and swollen)

Phrases with Body Parts in Japanese

Japanese speakers regularly use idioms with body part words in casual and formal conversations.

Each phrase means quite different from the direct translation, so be careful when you hear it and use it.

Phrases marked with * are the literal translations.

• あたまがあがらない (Atama ga agaranai | 頭が上がらない | to feel so indebted to, no match for someone) *can’t lift one’s head
• あたまがさがる (Atama ga sagaru | 頭が下がる | to take off one’s hat to) *to head down
• あたまがかたい (Atama ga katai | 頭が固い | stubborn) *one’s head is hard
• つらのかわがあつい (Tsura no kawa ga atui | 面の皮が厚い | shameless, bold, brazen-faced) *thick face skin
• がんちゅうにない (Ganchuu ni nai | 眼中にない | to show little interest in) *not in sight
• ほっぺがおちる (Hoppe ga ochiru | 頬っぺが落ちる | very delicious) *drooping cheeks
• こみみにはさむ (Komimi ni hasamu | 小耳に挟む | to overhear) *to sandwich something between small ears
• みみがいたい (Mimi ga itai | 耳が痛い | hard to hear, heartbreaking) *my ears hurt
• くびになる (Kubi ni naru | 首になる | to be fired) *to be beheaded
• むねをなでおろす (Mune wo nade orosu | 胸をなでおろす | to feel relieved) *to stroke down one’s chest
• こばらがすく (Kobara ga suku | 小腹が空く | to become a little hungry)
• たまのこしにのる (Tama no koshi ni noru | 玉の輿に乗る | to marry into money) *palanquin set with jewels
• てのうちをあかす (Te no uchi wo akasu | 手の内を明かす | to lay one’s card on the table) *to reveal the inside of one’s hand
• あしがぼうになる (Ashi ga bou ni naru | 足が棒になる | my legs are tired) *one’s feet become sticks
• あしをひっぱる (Ashi wo hipparu | 足を引っ張る | to drag a team down) *to pull someone’s legs
• ごぞうろっぷにしみわたる (Gozou roppu ni shimiwataru | 五臓六腑に染み渡る | to sink deep into one’s heart or body) *it spreads to internal organs
• ほねやすめ (Hone yasume | 骨休め | relaxation, a well-earned rest) *bone rest
• めとはなのさき (Me to hana no saki | 目と鼻の先 | be within a stone’s throw) *right in front of eyes and nose

Conclusion

Learning the parts of the body in Japanese is not only fun but also practical. You never know when you might need to describe a specific body part or seek medical attention in Japan.

So, keep practicing those body part names until you can say them without hesitation. But let’s hope you won’t need to use them because of an injury. Stay safe, and keep learning!

がんばってください (Ganbatte kudasai)! ^^