健康な体
kenkō na karada
The English phrase "healthy body" is translated into Japanese as 健康な体 (kenkō na karada).
The phrase refers to a physical state of being free from illness or injury.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 健康 (health), the particle な (an adjectival linker) and 体 (body).
Which one should you use?
You can use 健康な身体 to sound more formal or clinical by using the kanji 身体 instead of 体. For an informal way to say one is "in good shape," you can use 体の調子がいい. Additionally, 健全な体 is another formal way to express a healthy body.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 健康な体, the adjective "healthy" is expressed by the na-adjective 健康な. This requires the particle な to connect it to the noun.
How do you pronounce it?
kenkō na karada
Did you know?
- If you use the word 健全 from 健全な体, you are implying that the body is not just healthy, but also 'wholesome' or 'morally sound'.
- The kanji 身 in the formal 身体 (body) also means 'social position' or 'status', implying that one's physical body is tied to their place in society.
- The formal kanji 身体 used in 健康な身体 is also the way Japanese people refer to 'one's entire being' or 'the soul and body' in spiritual contexts.
Examples in context
- ご健康をお祈り申し上げます。I pray for your good health.
- 元気でね！Stay healthy!
- お体に気をつけてください。Please take care of your health.
- 健康な体を維持したいです。kenkou na karada o iji shitai desu.I want to maintain a healthy body.
- 健康な体を作るのは大変です。kenkou na karada o tsukuru no wa taihen desu.Building a healthy body is hard.
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are talking about starting a new exercise routine.
- 結衣 Yui最近、運動不足だと思いませんか？Saikin, undō busoku da to omoimasen ka?Don't you think we've been lacking exercise lately?
- 健太 Kentaそうですね。明日からジムに行きます。Sō desu ne. Ashita kara jimu ni ikimasu.You're right. I'm going to the gym starting tomorrow.
- 結衣 Yuiいいですね！健康な体を作りましょう。Ii desu ne! Kenkōna karada o tsukurimashō.That's great! Let's build healthy bodies.
- 健太 Kentaはい、一緒に頑張りましょう。Hai, issho ni ganbarimashō.Yes, let's do our best together.
