健康・体

規則正きそくただしい生活せいかつが健康けんこうの基本きほんだ。

A regular lifestyle is the foundation of good health.

Usage 健康 works as a noun and a な-adjective: 健康な体 (a healthy body), 健康にいい (good for your health), 健康診断 (health check-up), 健康保険 (health insurance).

Remember it 健 (sturdy) + 康 (at ease) → sturdy and at ease.

風邪かぜをこじらせて大おおきな病気びょうきになってしまった。

My cold got worse and turned into a serious illness.

Usage 病気になる = to fall ill, 病気が治る (なおる) = to get better, 病気がち = sickly. 怪我 (けが) is an injury, not an illness.

Remember it 疒 (the sickness radical: a person on a bed) inside 病 + 気 (spirit) → a spirit taken ill.

症状しょうじょうが悪化あっかしたので病院びょういんに行いった。

My symptoms got worse, so I went to the hospital.

Usage 症状 = symptoms: 症状が出る (symptoms appear), 症状が悪化する (get worse), 症状が改善する (improve). Doctors ask どんな症状ですか.

Remember it 症 (illness, 疒 radical) + 状 (condition) → the condition an illness shows.

昨日きのうから熱ねつがあって、39度どもある。

I've had a fever since yesterday, as high as 39 degrees.

Usage 熱がある (have a fever), 熱が出る (a fever comes on), 熱を測る (take your temperature), 熱が下がる (the fever goes down). The medical word is 発熱 (はつねつ).

Remember it 熱 sits on 灬, the four fire dots. Heat, in a body or a kettle alike.

風邪かぜをひいて学校がっこうを休やすんだ。

I caught a cold and stayed home from school.

Usage 風邪をひく = to catch a cold, using 引く, never なる. 風邪薬 (cold medicine), 風邪気味 (coming down with a cold), 風邪がうつる (catch someone's cold). Don't confuse it with 風 (wind), also read かぜ.

Remember it 風 (wind) + 邪 (evil) → from the old belief that illness rode in on an ill wind.

電車でんしゃの中なかで咳せきが止とまらなくて困こまった。

I couldn't stop coughing on the train, which was awkward.

Usage 咳が出る = to have a cough, 咳をする = to cough, 咳き込む = to have a coughing fit, 咳止め = cough medicine.

Remember it 口 (mouth) + 亥 → something forced out through the mouth.

花粉症かふんしょうで鼻水はなみずが止とまらない。

My nose won't stop running because of hay fever.

Usage 鼻水が出る = to have a runny nose. 鼻をかむ = to blow your nose. Hay fever, 花粉症 (かふんしょう), is a national spring ailment in Japan.

Remember it 鼻 (nose) + 水 (water) → water from the nose.

頭痛ずつうがひどくて仕事しごとに集中しゅうちゅうできない。

My headache is so bad that I can't concentrate on work.

Usage 頭痛がする = to have a headache; 頭痛薬 = headache medicine. 痛 forms a family of aches: 腹痛 (stomachache), 腰痛 (backache), 歯痛 (toothache). In speech, 頭が痛い.

Remember it 頭 (head) + 痛 (pain) → head pain.

腹痛ふくつうでトイレトイレから出でられなかった。

I had such a stomachache I couldn't leave the toilet.

Usage 腹痛 is the medical word for a stomachache: 腹痛がする, 腹痛を訴える (complain of stomach pain). In speech, お腹が痛い.

Remember it 腹 (belly) + 痛 (pain) → belly pain.

食たべすぎて下痢げりになってしまった。

I ate too much and ended up with diarrhea.

Usage 下痢をする / 下痢になる = to have diarrhea; 下痢止め = anti-diarrheal medicine. Its opposite is 便秘 (べんぴ, constipation).

Remember it 下 (down) + 痢 (diarrhea, 疒 radical) → sickness that sends things down.

バスバスに揺ゆられて吐き気はきけがした。

The bus was bumping around and I felt sick.

Usage 吐き気がする = to feel nauseous; 吐き気を催す (もよおす) = to be nauseated (formal). 吐く (はく) = to vomit. Carsickness is 乗り物酔い.

Remember it 吐く (to throw up) + 気 (feeling) → the feeling you're about to throw up.

立たち上あがった瞬間しゅんかんにめまいめまいがした。

The moment I stood up, I felt dizzy.

Usage めまいがする = to feel dizzy, always with が and する. 立ちくらみ is lightheadedness from standing up too fast.

Remember it Kanji form 目眩: 目 (eye) + 眩 (dazzled). Your eyes go dazzled and the room spins.

激しいはげしい運動うんどうの後あと、疲労ひろうで体からだが動うごかなかった。

After intense exercise, I was so exhausted I couldn't move.

Usage 疲労 is fatigue in a formal or medical sense: 疲労回復 (recovery from fatigue), 疲労がたまる (fatigue builds up). 過労 (かろう) is overwork. Everyday: 疲れ.

Remember it 疲 (tired, 疒 radical) + 労 (labor) → tired from labor.

仕事しごとのストレスストレスが溜たまって、眠ねむれない。

Work stress has built up, and I can't sleep.

Usage ストレスがたまる = stress builds up; ストレス解消 = stress relief; ストレスを感じる = to feel stressed. ストレス発散 means letting off steam.

Remember it From English 'stress'. Picture it collecting in a jar: ストレスが溜まる.

医者いしゃが丁寧ていねいに診察しんさつしてくれた。

The doctor examined me very carefully.

Usage 診察 is a doctor's examination: 診察を受ける (see a doctor), 診察室 (consultation room), 診察券 (patient card). 診断 is the diagnosis that comes after.

Remember it 診 (to examine medically) + 察 (to observe) → examining and observing a patient.

医者いしゃに処方しょほうされた薬くすりを薬局やっきょくで受うけ取とった。

I picked up the medicine the doctor prescribed at the pharmacy.

Usage 処方する = to prescribe: 処方箋 (しょほうせん, prescription slip), 処方薬 (prescription drugs). 市販薬 (しはんやく) is over-the-counter medicine.

Remember it 処 (to deal with) + 方 (method) → the method for dealing with an illness.

心臓しんぞうの手術しゅじゅつが成功せいこうして回復かいふくした。

The heart surgery was a success and the patient recovered.

Usage 手術を受ける = to have surgery; 手術する = to operate. Watch the reading: しゅじゅつ, with no long vowel. 手術室 = operating room.

Remember it 手 (hand) + 術 (technique) → the technique of the hands.

骨折こっせつして1週間しゅうかん入院にゅういんすることになった。

I broke a bone and had to be in the hospital for a week.

Usage 入院する = to be admitted to hospital: 病院に入院する. The mirror is 退院 (discharge). 入院費 = hospital charges, 緊急入院 = emergency admission.

Remember it 入 (to enter) + 院 (institution) → entering the institution.

やっと退院たいいんできて、家族かぞくと再会さいかいした。

I was finally discharged and reunited with my family.

Usage 退院する = to be discharged, the mirror of 入院. The same 退 appears in 早退 (leaving early) and 退学 (dropping out).

Remember it 退 (to withdraw) + 院 (institution) → withdrawing from the institution.

毎朝まいあさ体温たいおんを測はかって記録きろくしている。

I take my temperature every morning and write it down.

Usage 体温を測る = to take your temperature; 体温計 = thermometer. 平熱 (へいねつ) is your normal temperature, about 36.5°C in Japan.

Remember it 体 (body) + 温 (warmth) → body warmth.

医者いしゃが脈みゃくを取とって確認かくにんした。

The doctor took my pulse to check it.

Usage 脈を取る / 測る = to take a pulse; 脈拍 (みゃくはく) = pulse rate. 脈 also means a vein or connection: 文脈 (context), 山脈 (mountain range), 脈がある (there's hope).

Remember it 月 (body, flesh) + 𠂢 (a river branching) → channels branching through the body.

高齢者こうれいしゃは血圧けつあつを定期的ていきてきに測はかることが大切たいせつだ。

It's important for elderly people to check their blood pressure regularly.

Usage 血圧を測る = to take blood pressure: 高血圧 (high blood pressure), 低血圧 (low), 血圧が上がる. 血圧計 = blood pressure monitor.

Remember it 血 (blood) + 圧 (pressure) → blood pressure.

血液けつえき検査けんさの結果けっかが出でるまで不安ふあんだった。

I was anxious until the blood test results came out.

Usage 検査 is a test or inspection: 血液検査 (blood test), 視力検査 (eye test), 検査を受ける (get tested). It also covers products: 品質検査 (quality inspection).

Remember it 検 (to examine) + 査 (to investigate) → examining and investigating.

胸むねのレントゲンレントゲンを撮とって肺はいを確認かくにんした。

I had a chest X-ray to check my lungs.

Usage レントゲンを撮る = to take an X-ray. It is named after Wilhelm Röntgen, who discovered X-rays. The technical term is X線 (エックスせん).

Remember it From the name Röntgen, the scientist who discovered X-rays.

感染症かんせんしょうの予防よぼうには手洗いてあらいが効果的こうかてきだ。

Washing your hands is effective in preventing infectious diseases.

Usage 予防する = to prevent: 予防接種 (vaccination), 予防策 (preventive measures), 予防医学 (preventive medicine). 防止 (ぼうし) is preventing accidents or crime.

Remember it 予 (beforehand) + 防 (to defend) → defending beforehand.

インフルエンザインフルエンザのワクチンワクチンを毎年まいとし接種せっしゅしている。

I get a flu vaccine every year.

Usage ワクチンを接種する / 打つ = to get vaccinated; ワクチン接種 = vaccination. The loanword comes from German Vakzin.

Remember it From German 'Vakzin'. Think: vaccine, said the German way.

偏かたよった食事しょくじは栄養えいようバランスを崩くずす。

An unbalanced diet throws off your nutritional balance.

Usage 栄養 = nutrition: 栄養バランス, 栄養不足 (malnutrition), 栄養士 (dietitian), 栄養価が高い (highly nutritious).

Remember it 栄 (to flourish) + 養 (to nourish) → nourishment that makes you flourish.

野菜やさいにはビタミンビタミンが豊富ほうふに含ふくまれている。

Vegetables are rich in vitamins.

Usage ビタミン is followed by a letter: ビタミンC, ビタミンD. ビタミン不足 = vitamin deficiency; ビタミン剤 = vitamin supplements.

Remember it From German 'Vitamin'. Same word, Japanese pronunciation.

毎朝まいあさ30分ふん運動うんどうすることで体重たいじゅうが減へった。

By exercising 30 minutes every morning, I lost weight.

Usage 運動する = to exercise: 運動不足 (lack of exercise), 運動会 (school sports day). It also means a campaign or movement: 選挙運動 (election campaign), 反対運動 (protest movement).

Remember it 運 (to move, carry) + 動 (to move) → motion, written twice.

連続れんぞくして働はたらいたので、十分じゅうぶんな休養きゅうようが必要ひつようだ。

I've been working nonstop, so I need a good rest.

Usage 休養 is rest to recover your strength, deeper than just 休む: 休養を取る, 休養が必要だ. Athletes and celebrities announce a 休養 when they take time off.

Remember it 休 (to rest) + 養 (to nourish) → resting to nourish yourself back.

激しいはげしい運動うんどうで心臓しんぞうがドキドキした。

My heart was pounding from intense exercise.

Usage 心臓 is the physical organ; 心 (こころ) is the heart as feelings. 心臓がドキドキする (heart pounds), 心臓病 (heart disease). 心臓に悪い = bad for the nerves.

Remember it 心 (heart) + 臓 (internal organ) → the heart as an organ, not as feeling.

免疫めんえき力りょくを高たかめるために睡眠すいみんをしっかり取とろう。

Get plenty of sleep to boost your immunity.

Usage 免疫 = immunity: 免疫力 (immune strength), 免疫がつく (build up immunity). Figuratively, 〜に免疫がない means you're not used to something.

Remember it 免 (to escape) + 疫 (epidemic, 疒 radical) → escaping the epidemic.

ワクチンワクチンを打つうつと抗体こうたいができる。

When you get vaccinated, antibodies form.

Usage 抗体 = antibody: 抗体ができる, 抗体検査 (antibody test). Related: 抗原 (こうげん, antigen), 抗生物質 (antibiotics).

Remember it 抗 (to resist) + 体 (body) → bodies that resist disease.

インフルエンザインフルエンザに感染かんせんして一週間いっしゅうかん寝ね込んだ。

I caught the flu and was laid up in bed for a week.

Usage 感染する = to become infected: 〜に感染する, 感染症 (infectious disease), 感染拡大 (spread of infection), 感染経路 (route of infection).

Remember it 感 (to feel, be affected) + 染 (to dye, stain) → being stained by a disease.

伝染でんせんを防ふせぐためにマスクマスクを着用ちゃくようする。

I wear a mask to prevent the spread of infection.

Usage 伝染 stresses spreading from person to person: 伝染病 (contagious disease), 伝染する. Figuratively, 笑いは伝染する (laughter is contagious). 感染 is the individual catching it.

Remember it 伝 (to pass on) + 染 (to stain) → a stain passed from person to person.

このウイルスの潜伏期間せんぷくきかんは2〜14日にちだ。

The incubation period of this virus is 2 to 14 days.

Usage 潜伏期間 = incubation period. 潜伏 means lying hidden: 犯人が潜伏する (the suspect is in hiding).

Remember it 潜伏 (潜 dive under + 伏 lie low: lying hidden) + 期間 (period) → the period when the illness lies hidden.

慢性まんせい頭痛ずつうに悩なやんで長年ながねんが経たつ。

I've suffered from chronic headaches for many years.

Usage 慢性 = chronic: 慢性疾患 (chronic disease), 慢性的な (chronic, also figuratively: 慢性的な人手不足, a chronic staff shortage). Its opposite is 急性.

Remember it 慢 (slow, drawn out) + 性 (nature) → an illness slow by nature.

急性きゅうせい腸炎ちょうえんと診断しんだんされて入院にゅういんした。

I was diagnosed with acute enteritis and hospitalized.

Usage 急性 = acute, sudden and fast-moving: 急性胃炎 (acute gastritis), 急性アルコール中毒 (acute alcohol poisoning). Its opposite is 慢性.

Remember it 急 (sudden) + 性 (nature) → an illness sudden by nature.

糖尿病とうにょうびょうの合併症がっぺいしょうには失明しつめいなどがある。

Complications of diabetes include loss of sight.

Usage 合併症 are complications from an illness or operation: 合併症を起こす. 副作用 are side effects of a drug. 合併 alone means a merger: 会社の合併.

Remember it 合併 (to merge) + 症 (illness) → illnesses merging on top of the first.

この薬くすりには眠気ねむけという副作用ふくさようがある。

This medicine has drowsiness as a side effect.

Usage 副作用 = side effect: 副作用が出る, 副作用がある. It is used for drugs and treatments, and figuratively for policies.

Remember it 副 (secondary) + 作用 (effect) → a secondary effect.

手術しゅじゅつの前まえに全身ぜんしん麻酔ますいをかけられた。

I was put under general anesthesia before the operation.

Usage 麻酔をかける = to anesthetize: 全身麻酔 (general anesthesia), 局所麻酔 (local anesthesia), 麻酔が切れる (wears off).

Remember it 麻 (numb) + 酔 (drunk) → numbed and dazed as if drunk.

転倒てんとうして腕うでを骨折こっせつした。

I fell and broke my arm.

Usage 骨折する takes を for the limb: 腕を骨折する. Watch the small tsu: こっせつ. 複雑骨折 is a compound fracture, and a cast is ギプス.

Remember it 骨 (bone) + 折 (to snap) → a snapped bone.

階段かいだんを踏ふみ外はずして足首あしくびを捻挫ねんざした。

I missed a step on the stairs and sprained my ankle.

Usage 捻挫する = to sprain: 足首を捻挫する. Know the trio: 捻挫 (sprain), 骨折 (fracture), 打撲 (bruise).

Remember it 捻 (to twist) + 挫 (to sprain, crush) → a twisting injury.

転ころんで膝ひざを打撲だぼくして青あおあざができた。

I fell and bruised my knee, and it went black and blue.

Usage 打撲 is a bruise from a blow: 打撲する, 全身打撲 (bruises all over). A visible bruise mark is あざ; 青あざ is black and blue.

Remember it 打 (to hit) + 撲 (to strike) → hit and struck.

医者いしゃから「胃炎いえん」という診断しんだんを受うけた。

The doctor diagnosed me with gastritis.

Usage In the passive, と marks the verdict: 胃炎と診断される. 診断書 = a medical certificate; 健康診断 = a health check-up. 診察 is the exam; 診断 is its conclusion.

Remember it 診 (to examine medically) + 断 (to decide) → examine, then decide.