Textbook body charts are huge; real life needs a small set of parts + 痛い (itai — painful/hurts) + 症状 (shoujou — symptoms) patterns.
This page is for pain, fitness, and basic clinic moments—not biology class.
Use our Japanese basics hub, run the Japanese everyday phrases quiz and Japanese travel essentials quiz—travel sets often overlap with “I don’t feel well” situations.
For emergencies, prefer real medical help over blog phrases alone.
Core nouns (high frequency)
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| 頭 | atama | head |
| 首 | kubi | neck |
| 肩 | kata | shoulder |
| 背中 | senaka | back |
| 胸 | mune | chest |
| お腹 | onaka | stomach / belly |
| 腕 | ude | arm |
| 手 | te | hand |
| 脚・足 | ashi | leg / foot (usage varies by context) |
| 喉 | nodo | throat |
Pain patterns (say what hurts)
- 頭が痛いです。 (Atama ga itai desu.) — “My head hurts.”
- のどが痛いです。 (Nodo ga itai desu.) — “My throat hurts.”
- 胃が痛いです。 (I ga itai desu.) — “My stomach hurts.” (context: pain; not a diagnosis)
Softer / explanatory:
- ここが痛みます。 (Koko ga itamimasu.) — “It hurts here.” (point)
Duration / intensity often needs extra vocab—listen for いつから (itsu kara — since when) at a clinic.
Gym & movement (light phrasing)
You’re not narrating a workout for an exam—you’re labeling body areas:
- 肩 (kata) — shoulders (presses, stiffness)
- 脚 (ashi) — legs (squats, running)
- 腹筋 (fukkin — abs) — common loanword cluster in gyms
Trainer might say: 膝を曲げて (hiza o magete — bend your knees). 膝 (hiza) = knee.
Clinic / pharmacy (recognition + one line)
You may hear:
- 熱はありますか？ (Netsu wa arimasu ka?) — “Do you have a fever?”
- アレルギーは？ (Arerugii wa?) — allergies?
You can say:
- かぜです。 (Kaze desu.) — “It’s a cold.” (rough; context matters)
- 吐き気がします。 (Hakike ga shimasu.) — “I feel nauseous.”
Serious symptoms: use translation apps, written cards, or help—don’t rely on memorized blog lines alone.
Sound natural
Trap: Listing every body part you studied.
Fix: ここ + 痛い + point.
Trap: Diagnosing yourself loudly in Japanese.
Fix: Describe symptoms; let professionals diagnose.
Link with travel & food
If you’re sick on a trip, travel Japanese and restaurant allergy language connect to the same “clear, short lines under stress” skill.
StudyArcade
Build eight cards: head / throat / stomach / back + が痛いです frame.
Add one gym noun (shoulder/knee).
Replay until you’re not translating word-by-word.
Ready to make studying fun? Download StudyArcade on the App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/app/studyarcade-study-games/id6759309341