体
体 means body, referring to the physical form of a person or living thing. It is used in words about physical health, fitness, and the structure of the human body.
Reading
On’yomi: タイ (tai), テイ (tei)
Kun’yomi: からだ (karada)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 体 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | body, physical |
| Stroke Count | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
体 focuses on the body as a physical entity. It can refer to the whole body or to bodily condition and strength. In compounds with タイ, it often appears in formal or academic contexts such as 体育 and 体重. As からだ, it is used naturally in everyday speech when talking about how one feels physically or about the body in general.
Common Words
- 体（からだ / karada） — body
- 体力（たいりょく / tairyoku） — physical strength, stamina
- 体育（たいいく / taiiku） — physical education, gym class
- 体重（たいじゅう / taijuu） — body weight
- 体調（たいちょう / taichou） — physical condition, state of health
- 身体（しんたい / shintai） — body, physique
Example Sentences
-
毎日運動して体を鍛えています。
まいにちうんどうしてからだをきたえています。 / Mainichi undou shite karada o kitaete imasu.
I exercise every day to train my body.
-
体育の授業でサッカーをしました。
たいいくのじゅぎょうでさっかーをしました。 / Taiiku no jugyou de sakkaa o shimashita.
We played soccer in PE class.
-
最近、体調がよくないです。
さいきん、たいちょうがよくないです。 / Saikin, taichou ga yokunai desu.
Recently, my physical condition has not been good.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
The everyday word is 体 (からだ), used in phrases like 体に気をつけて (take care of your body). 体力 means physical strength or stamina and is common in health and sports contexts. 体育 (physical education) is one of the first compounds learners encounter in a school setting. Note the two on’yomi: タイ is far more common, while テイ appears in a small number of fixed expressions.
Summary
体 is a key kanji for talking about the human body, health, and physical activity.