N5 Vocabulary: Body & people — 16 words with memory tricks
Body parts are one of the most pictographic N5 sets — many kanji literally draw the thing (目 an eye, 口 a mouth). This lesson covers body parts plus a few everyday health words, each with a memory hook.
01
体
からだ
karada
body; health
💡 "karada" = body. 亻(person) + 本 (origin/base) → a person's foundation.
体を大切にしてください。Please take care of your body.
02
頭
あたま
atama
head
💡 "atama" = head. The 頁 radical (on the right) itself means "head/page".
頭が痛いです。My head hurts.
03
顔
かお
kao
face (body part)
💡 "kao" = face. Contains 頁 (head) — the front of the head.
顔を洗いました。I washed my face.
04
目
め
me
eye(s)
💡 The kanji 目 is a drawn eye: an outer frame with the pupil inside.
目が大きいです。Her eyes are large.
05
耳
みみ
mimi
ear
💡 耳 is the outline of an ear. "mimi".
耳が痛いです。My ear hurts.
06
鼻
はな
hana
nose
💡 "hana" = nose (same sound as 花 flower — picture a nose smelling a flower).
鼻が高いですね。He has a high nose, doesn't he?
07
口
くち
kuchi
job opening; mouth
💡 A square = an open mouth. "kuchi".
口を開けてください。Please open your mouth.
08
歯
は
ha
tooth
💡 "ha" = tooth. The 米-like middle pictures a neat row of teeth.
歯を磨きました。I brushed my teeth.
09
声
こえ
koe
voice
💡 "koe" = voice.
大きな声で話してください。Please speak in a loud voice.
10
手
て
te
hand
💡 手 looks like an open hand with five fingers. "te".
手を洗ってください。Please wash your hands.
11
お腹
おなか
onaka
stomach
💡 腹 = belly. "onaka" = stomach.
おなかがすきました。I'm hungry.
12
足; 脚
あし; あし
ashi; ashi
foot; leg
💡 "ashi" = foot/leg. 足 also means "to be enough" — but here it's the foot.
足が痛いです。My leg hurts.
13
背
せ
se
(one's) height, stature
💡 "se" = back / one's height (背が高い = tall).
あなたのせいです。It's your fault.
14
病気
びょうき
byouki
illness; sickness
💡 病 (illness) + 気 (energy/spirit) → being unwell.
病気になりました。I got sick.
15
風邪
かぜ
kaze
cold, flu
💡 風 (wind) + 邪 (evil) → "an evil wind" got in = a cold.
かぜをひきました。I caught a cold.
16
薬
くすり
kusuri
medicine
💡 "kusuri" = medicine. The 艹 (grass) on top → medicine from herbs.
薬を飲みました。I took medicine.
Memory tricks
- Pictographs — read them like pictures: 目 (an eye with a pupil), 口 (an open square mouth), 耳 (an ear's outline), 手 (a five-fingered hand).
- Reuse the base kanji: 目 (eye), 口 (mouth), 手 (hand) show up in loads of compounds later — nail them now.
- Health as a mini-story: catch a 風邪 (cold) → it becomes 病気 (illness) → take 薬 (medicine).
- Review with spaced repetition: a few minutes a day in Memoro and the shapes stick.
→ See all N5 Body & people vocabulary
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