Translation guide
The English word 'bodily' is used as both an adjective and an adverb. As an adjective, it means 'relating to the body' (physical, corporeal). As an adverb, it means 'by moving the whole body' or 'physically'. This guide helps learners express these meanings naturally in Japanese.
bodily functions
bodily health
肉体 (nikutai) refers to the physical body, often with a nuance of flesh or corporeality. Used in contexts like 'bodily desires' or 'bodily strength'.
A more formal or technical adjective meaning 'physical' or 'bodily'. Often used in medical or academic contexts.
体 (karada) is a more casual word for 'body'. 体の is common in everyday speech.
Describing an action done with the entire body, often forcefully or physically (e.g., lift someone bodily, throw oneself bodily into something).
Means 'with the whole body' or 'bodily'. Used when the entire body is involved in an action.
I lifted him bodily.
She threw herself bodily into her work.
Literally 'with the whole body'. Emphasizes using the entire body for an action.
I collided bodily.
Means 'entirely' or 'as a whole'. Can be used for moving something bodily, but more commonly for objects.
Emphasizing the physical aspect of an experience or state (e.g., bodily present, bodily tired).
The adverbial form of 身体的. Used to say 'physically' or 'bodily' in a formal or neutral sense.
He was bodily tired.
She was bodily present, but her mind was elsewhere.
Similar to 身体的に, but with a nuance of 'fleshly' or 'corporeal'. Often used for physical labor or desires.
bodily demanding work
Refers to physical strength or stamina. Used when 'bodily' means 'in terms of physical energy'.
I'm at my bodily limit.
English often uses 'bodily' as an adverb meaning 'physically' or 'with the whole body'. Japanese does not have a single adverb that covers all these uses. Instead, use phrases like 体ごと (karada-goto) for 'with the whole body' or 身体的に (shintaiteki ni) for 'physically'. Direct translations like 身体的 (shintaiteki) without に are adjectives, not adverbs.
I carried him bodily.
身体 (shintai) is the standard word for 'body' in medical and formal contexts. 体 (karada) is more casual and common in everyday speech. 肉体 (nikutai) emphasizes the physical, fleshly aspect, often used in contexts of strength, desire, or mortality. Choose based on the nuance you want to convey.
He expressed his joy bodily.
彼は机を丸ごと持ち上げた。
He lifted the desk bodily.