Organs, symptoms and check-ups: the words of health articles and the doctor’s explanation.
Practise this list
From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
These are the words of a health check report, a pharmacy leaflet and a doctor explaining a result: organs, body systems, symptoms and the everyday business of looking after a body. Most are Sino-Japanese compounds, and the kanji give a lot away — 炎, flame, in 炎症; 臓, organ, in 腎臓 and 内臓. A few native verbs describe what the body does on its own, such as しびれる and むくむ, and these are normally written in kana.
The words
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Verb (3)
衰えるto weaken; to declineVerbN2
運動をしないでいると、筋力は少しずつ衰えていく。If you do not exercise, your muscle strength gradually declines.
しびれるto go numb; to tingleVerbN2
長時間パソコンを使っていたら、指先がしびれてきた。After hours at the computer, my fingertips started to tingle.
Usually written in kana; the kanji is 痺れる.
むくむto swell (with fluid); to get puffyVerbN2
一日中立ち仕事をすると、夕方には足がむくむ。If I stand all day at work, my feet are swollen by the evening.
Puffiness from fluid; swelling from an injury is 腫れる.
Noun (36)
炎症inflammationNounN2
喉に炎症が起きているので、薬を出しておきます。Your throat is inflamed, so I will prescribe some medicine.
Usually with 起きる or 起こす.
発作attack; fit; seizureNounN2
夜中に咳の発作が起きて、眠れなかった。I had a coughing fit in the middle of the night and could not sleep.
A sudden attack of a condition: 心臓発作, a heart attack.
疲労fatigue; exhaustionNounN2
毎日の残業で、疲労がたまっている。With overtime every day, the fatigue is building up.
The formal word for 疲れ; compare 疲労回復, recovering from tiredness.
不眠sleeplessness; insomniaNounN2
不眠が続いたら、一度医者に相談したほうがいい。If the sleeplessness carries on, you should talk to a doctor.
The medical condition is 不眠症.
代謝metabolismNounN2
代謝がいいのか、兄はいくら食べても太らない。Perhaps he has a fast metabolism: however much my brother eats, he never puts on weight.
In everyday speech short for 新陳代謝.
血管blood vesselNounN2
寒い日は血管が縮み、血圧が上がりやすい。On cold days the blood vessels contract and blood pressure tends to rise.
胃腸stomach and intestines; digestionNounN2
旅行中に胃腸の調子を崩してしまった。My stomach was upset while I was travelling.
Common on medicine labels: 胃腸薬.
腎臓kidneyNounN2
腎臓の働きが弱いので、塩辛いものは控えている。My kidneys are weak, so I cut down on salty food.
神経nerve; nervesNounN3
試合の前は、神経が張り詰めていた。Before the match my nerves were on edge.
Also the anatomical nerve; 神経質 is highly strung.
脳brainNounN3
寝ている間も、脳は記憶を整理しているそうだ。Apparently the brain is sorting memories even while we sleep.
脈拍pulse; pulse rateNounN2
走った後は、脈拍がかなり速くなる。After running, your pulse becomes quite fast.
In speech often just 脈.
内臓internal organsNounN2
検査では、内臓に特に問題は見つからなかった。The tests found no particular problem with the internal organs.
検診medical examination; screeningNounN2
年に一度、胃がんの検診を受けている。I have a screening for stomach cancer once a year.
A check for a particular illness; 健診, same sound, is a general health check.
老化ageingNounN2
紫外線は肌の老化を早めると言われている。Ultraviolet light is said to speed up the ageing of the skin.
Also a verb: 老化する.
生活習慣病lifestyle-related diseaseNounN2
生活習慣病を防ぐには、食事と運動が大切だ。Diet and exercise are important for preventing lifestyle-related diseases.
Illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, linked to diet and daily habits.
便秘constipationNounN2
水分が足りないと、便秘になりやすいそうだ。Apparently you are more likely to get constipated if you do not drink enough.
貧血anaemiaNounN2
朝礼の途中で、貧血を起こして倒れた生徒がいた。One pupil felt faint and collapsed during the morning assembly.
In everyday speech also feeling faint or dizzy: 貧血を起こす.
脱水dehydrationNounN2
暑い日は、脱水症状にならないように水をこまめに飲もう。On hot days, drink water little and often so that you do not become dehydrated.
Mostly in 脱水症状. Also the spin cycle of a washing machine.
体格build; physiqueNounN2
彼は体格がいいので、柔道部に誘われた。He has a sturdy build, so he was invited to join the judo club.
体格がいい means well built, not good-looking.
聴力hearingNounN2
大きな音を長く聞き続けると、聴力が落ちることがある。Listening to loud sounds for long periods can damage your hearing.
Compare 視力, eyesight.
遺伝heredity; inheritanceNounN2
背が高いのは父からの遺伝だと思う。I think I get my height from my father.
Also a verb: 遺伝する. A gene is 遺伝子.
花粉症hay feverNounN3
春になると、花粉症で目がかゆくなる。In spring, my eyes itch because of hay fever.
五感the five sensesNounN2
この展示は、五感を使って楽しめるように工夫されている。This exhibition is designed so that you can enjoy it with all five senses.
感覚sense; sensation; feelNounN3
寒さで指先の感覚がなくなった。My fingertips went numb with the cold.
Also a feel for something: 金銭感覚, a sense of money.
受診seeing a doctor; consultationNounN2
気になる症状があるときは、早めに医療機関を受診してください。If you have symptoms that worry you, please see a doctor early.
Also a verb: 受診する. The word on official health advice.
通院regular visits to a hospital or clinicNounN2
膝の治療のため、週に一度通院している。I go to the clinic once a week to have my knee treated.
Also a verb: 通院する. Opposite of staying in: 入院.
療養recuperation; medical treatmentNounN2
手術の後、彼は実家でしばらく療養した。After the operation, he spent some time recuperating at his parents’ home.
Also a verb: 療養する.
悪化worsening; deteriorationNounN2
無理をして働いたため、病状が悪化した。Because he pushed himself at work, his condition got worse.
Also a verb: 悪化する. Also used of situations and relations.
衛生hygiene; sanitationNounN2
飲食店では、衛生管理が特に重要だ。Hygiene management is especially important in places that serve food.
Adjective: 衛生的, hygienic.
肉体the body; the fleshNounN2
この仕事は肉体的にも精神的にもきつい。This work is hard both physically and mentally.
The body as opposed to the mind; often in 肉体的.
体内inside the bodyNounN2
汗をたくさんかいたら、体内の水分を補う必要がある。When you have sweated a lot, you need to replace the water in your body.
Mostly in writing; opposite 体外.
息切れshortness of breathNounN2
最近、階段を上るだけで息切れがする。Lately I get out of breath just climbing the stairs.
Usually 息切れがする.
不調poor condition; malfunctionNounN2
季節の変わり目は、体の不調を感じる人が多い。When the seasons change, many people feel out of sorts.
Also used for machines and sports form. Opposite: 好調.
摂取intake (of food or nutrients)NounN2
野菜から食物繊維を摂取するようにしている。I try to get my dietary fibre from vegetables.
Also a verb: 摂取する. A written word for taking in.
塩分salt; salt contentNounN2
医者に塩分を控えるように言われた。The doctor told me to cut down on salt.
Salt as part of food; table salt is 塩.
脂肪fat (in the body or food)NounN2
運動不足で、お腹に脂肪がついてきた。From lack of exercise, I have started putting on fat around my stomach.
Body fat: 体脂肪.
na-adjective (1)
健やかhealthy; soundna-adjectiveN2
子供たちが健やかに育つよう願っています。We hope the children grow up healthy.
A warm, slightly formal word, typical of wishes for children.
