noun
the whole body; all five body parts
Refers to the entire body, often with a nuance of all limbs and head. Sense 3 is the original meaning (head, two hands, two feet; or head, neck, chest, hands, feet). In modern use, 五体 is most common in set phrases like 五体満足 (with all limbs intact).
五体満足で生まれてきたことに感謝している。
I am grateful to have been born with all my limbs intact.
事故の後、五体が思うように動かなくなった
After the accident, my whole body no longer moved as I wanted.
noun
the five calligraphy styles
Refers to the five classical styles of writing Chinese characters: seal script (篆書), clerical script (隷書), regular script (楷書), semi-cursive script (行書), and cursive script (草書). This is a specialized term used in calligraphy and historical contexts.
書道の先生は五体すべてを教えてくれた。
The calligraphy teacher taught me all five styles.
この展覧会では五体の作品が展示されている。
Works in all five calligraphy styles are exhibited at this exhibition.
全身 is the common word for 'whole body' in everyday contexts. 五体 is more literary and often appears in fixed expressions emphasizing the completeness of limbs.
五体満足 is a set phrase meaning 'with all limbs intact' or 'physically sound'. 五体 alone is rarely used outside this phrase in modern Japanese.
From 五 (five) + 体 (body). The original meaning referred to the five parts of the body in traditional Chinese medicine or philosophy. The calligraphy sense derives from the same 'five' + 'form' concept.