身みだしなみ

み

だ

し

な

み

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

personal appearance; grooming

Refers to how one presents oneself through clothing, hygiene, and neatness; often used in contexts of social appropriateness.

面めん接せつの前まえには身みだしなみを

整ととの

え

ましょう

。

Let's tidy up our appearance before the interview.

彼かれはいつも身みだしなみに気きをつけている。

He always pays attention to his grooming.

2

noun

essential skill; required knowledge

Rare, somewhat dated usage; refers to a fundamental ability or knowledge one should possess, often in a professional or social context.

社しゃ会かい人じんの身みだしなみとして、敬けい語ごの使つかい方かたは必ひっ須すだ。
As an essential skill for working adults, using honorific language is a must.

Usage patterns

身みだしなみを整ととのえるto tidy up one's appearance; to make oneself presentable
面めん接せつの前まえに身みだしなみを整ととのえた。
I made myself presentable before the interview.
身みだしなみに気きを付つけるto be careful about one's grooming
彼かれはいつも身みだしなみに気きを付つけている。
He always pays attention to his grooming.
身みだしなみがいいto be well-groomed
彼かの女じょはいつも身みだしなみがいい。
She is always well-groomed.
身みだしなみをチェックするto check one's appearance
出でかける前まえに鏡かがみで身みだしなみをチェックした。
I checked my appearance in the mirror before heading out.

Kanji

身somebody, person, one's station in life
嗜like, taste, modest

Related words

身みなりN1sense 1
身なり focuses narrowly on clothing and outward dress, while 身だしなみ covers overall grooming including hygiene and neatness.
服ふく装そうN3sense 1
服装 refers strictly to the clothes one is wearing, whereas 身だしなみ is the broader impression of tidiness and appropriateness one gives off.
外がい見けんN3sense 1
外見 is a neutral word for how someone looks overall, while 身だしなみ specifically implies effort to look neat and socially acceptable.
おしゃれN3sense 1
おしゃれ implies stylish, fashionable dressing for its own sake, while 身だしなみ is about basic cleanliness and social appropriateness rather than style.

Written forms

身みだしなみUsage95%
Standard modern spelling; the kanji 身嗜み is rarely used.
身み嗜だしなみUsage5%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should prefer 身だしなみ.

Etymology

Compound of 身 (body, oneself) and 嗜み (preparation, taste), from the verb 嗜む (to be fond of, to be well-versed in). The kanji 嗜 is rare, leading to the common kana spelling 身だしなみ.