体
body, substance, object, reality, counter for images
Readings
On'yomi
- タイ
- テイ
Kun'yomi
- からだ
- かたち
Nanori
- なり
Meaning
体 centers on the physical form of something: a living body, a material object, or the tangible reality of a thing. The counter sense extends this to counting physical items like statues or images.
Most common words using 体
24 of 1,464- 体からだN5
body
- 全体ぜんたいN3
whole; entirety
- 団体だんたいN3
group; party; team
- 自体じたい
itself
- 体験たいけんN2
(practical) experience; personal experience; hands-on experience; first-hand experience
- 身体しんたいN3
body; physical system; (the) person
- 一体いったいN3
(what) the heck; (why) in the world; (who) on earth; (where) the hell; (how) the hell
- 体制たいせいN2
order; system; structure; set-up; organization; organisation
- 具体ぐたいN3
concreteness; embodiment
- 体重たいじゅうN4
(body) weight
- 本体ほんたいN2
substance; true form; true character
- 大体だいたいN5
generally; on the whole; mostly; almost; nearly; approximately; roughly; about
- 体調たいちょうN3
physical condition; state of health; shape
- 正体しょうたいN1
true character; true form; true colors; identity; truth (of a mystery, phenomenon, etc.); origin
- 体育たいいくN3
physical education; PE; gym (class)
- 体力たいりょくN2
physical strength; power; stamina; endurance; vigor; resistance to disease
- 体操たいそうN3
gymnastics; physical exercises
- 機体きたいN1
fuselage; airframe
- 自治体じちたいN2
municipality; local government; self-governing body; autonomous body
- 死体したいN2
dead body; corpse; cadaver; carcass
- 肉体にくたいN1
the body; the flesh; the outer man; one's physique
- 体質たいしつN1
constitution (physical); physical make-up; predisposition (to disease); disposition; tendency
- 解体かいたいN1
demolition; taking down; dismantling; disassembly; taking apart
- 遺体いたいN1
(dead) body; corpse; remains
Study
Etymology
体 is the modern simplified form of 體. The older form combines 骨 (bone) with 豊 (abundant vessel), suggesting the physical framework of the body. The modern form replaces the left side with 亻 (person) and keeps 本 as a simplified phonetic and structural component.
Meaning mnemonic
A person 亻 stands beside a tree 本, representing the physical body as the root and foundation of a person's existence.
Reading mnemonic
For タイ, imagine tying a ribbon around your body: tie -> タイ, and the ribbon wraps around your physical form.