Language/Japanese/Vocabulary/Health

Japanese Vocabulary - Health

Hi Japanese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will cover some important Japanese health vocabulary. It is essential to know these words in case of an emergency or when speaking with a doctor. We will also learn some interesting cultural information related to health. Let's get started!

With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Social Etiquette and Expressions & Feelings and Emotions.

Common Health Vocabulary

Let's start with some basic vocabulary related to health.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
病気 (びょうき)	byōki	illness/disease
痛み (いたみ)	itami	pain
薬 (くすり)	kusuri	medicine
医者 (いしゃ)	isha	doctor (medical professional)
看護師 (かんごし)	kangoshi	nurse
病院 (びょういん)	byōin	hospital
保険 (ほけん)	hoken	insurance
健康 (けんこう)	kenkō	health

Here are some sample sentences to help you remember these words.

Dialogue:

• Person 1: 今朝、私は病気です。(Kesa, watashi wa byōki desu.) (This morning, I'm sick.)
• Person 2: あなたは痛みがありますか？ (Anata wa itami ga arimasu ka?) (Do you have any pain?)
• Person 1: はい、私の胃が痛いです。 (Hai, watashi no i ga itai desu.) (Yes, my stomach hurts.)
• Person 2: それでは、病院へ行きましょう。 (Sore dewa, byōin e ikimashou.) (In that case, let's go to the hospital.)

Food and Nutrition

Here are some words related to food and nutrition that you should know.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
カロリー (karorī)	calorie
食物繊維 (しょくもつせんい)	shokumotsusen'i	dietary fiber
タンパク質 (たんぱくしつ)	tanpakushitsu	protein
ビタミン (bitamin)	vitamin
ミネラル (mineraru)	mineral

Did you know that Japanese people have one of the longest life expectancies in the world? One reason for this is their healthy diet, which includes a lot of fish and vegetables. Japanese people also have a saying, "hara hachi bunme," which means to only eat until you are 80% full. This portion control practice is another reason why they tend to be healthier.

Dialogue:

• Person 1: この食品にどのくらいのカロリーがありますか？(Kono shokuhin ni dono kurai no karorī ga arimasu ka?) (How many calories are in this food?)
• Person 2: 100グラムあたり120カロリーです。(Hyaku guramu atari hyaku ni jū karorī desu.) (It's 120 calories per 100 grams.)
• Person 1: この料理には、タンパク質が多く含まれていますか？ (Kono ryōri ni wa, tanpakushitsu ga ōku fukumarete imasu ka?) (Does this dish contain a lot of protein?)
• Person 2: はい、鶏肉が入っているのでタンパク質が多いです。(Hai, toriniku ga haitte iru node tanpakushitsu ga ōi desu.) (Yes, there's chicken in it, so it's high in protein.)

Exercise and Fitness

Exercise is important for maintaining good health. Here are some words related to exercise and fitness.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
運動 (うんどう)	undō	exercise
ストレッチ (sutoretchi)	stretch
体重 (たいじゅう)	taijū	body weight
トレーニング (torēningu)	training
ジョギング (jogingu)	jogging
エアロビクス (earobikusu)	aerobikusu (aerobics)

Did you know that walking is a popular form of exercise in Japan? Many people try to walk at least 10,000 steps per day, which is equivalent to about 5 miles. This is known as "manpo-kei," which means "10,000-step meter."

Dialogue:

• Person 1: 運動する時間がありません。(Undō suru jikan ga arimasen.) (I don't have time to exercise.)
• Person 2: それなら、10分だけストレッチをすることをお勧めします。(Sore nara, juppun dake sutoretchi o suru koto o osusume shimasu.) (In that case, I recommend just doing a 10-minute stretch.)
• Person 1: 私は体重を減らしたいですが、どの運動が最も効果的ですか？(Watashi wa taijū o herashitai desu ga, dono undō ga mottomo kōkateki desu ka?) (I want to lose weight, but which exercise is the most effective?)
• Person 2: ランニングやジョギングがいいですよ。 (Ranningu ya jogingu ga ii desu yo.) (Running or jogging is good for that.)

Mental Health

Mental health is just as important as physical health. Here are some words related to mental health.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
ストレス (sutoresu)	stress
心配 (しんぱい)	shinpai	worry/anxiety
疲れ (つかれ)	tsukare	fatigue/tiredness
瞑想 (めいそう)	meisō	meditation
喜び (よろこび)	yorokobi	joy/happiness

In Japan, it is common to take a "nemuri-neko" break, which means to take a nap like a cat. This can help relieve stress and improve productivity.

Dialogue:

• Person 1: 最近、ストレスがたまっています。(Saikin, sutoresu ga tamatte imasu.) (Lately, I've been really stressed.)
• Person 2: 瞑想すると、気分が落ち着くかもしれませんよ。(Meisō suru to, kibun ga ochitsuku kamoshiremasen yo.) (Meditation might help you feel more calm.)
• Person 1: 私は心配しすぎて疲れました。(Watashi wa shinpai shisugite tsukaremashita.) (I'm tired from worrying too much.)
• Person 2: 喜びのために、好きなことをしてリラックスしましょう。(Yorokobi no tame ni, suki na koto o shite rirakkusu shimashou.) (Do something you enjoy to relax and find joy.)

That's it for today's lesson! Remember to practice these new words and phrases, and don't forget to take care of your health! 🌞

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Other Lessons

• Numbers
• The Shapes
• Weather
• Months of the Year
• Acronyms
• Animals
• Longest word
• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• City
• House

Sources

• 30+ Awesome Vocabulary For Health In Japanese To Learn Now ...
• The Smart Japanese Learner's Medical Guide: 70+ Terms for ...
• Japanese Vocabulary for Talking about the Coronavirus - GaijinPot