Japanese · JLPT Band 1 (N5) · Chapter 29

からだと けんこうThe body and health

Karada to kenkō

Body words: karada, atama, onaka, nodo, te, ashi, itai, netsu, byouin, isha. The key grammar is saying what hurts with "~ga itai desu": atama ga itai desu. Also learn "netsu ga arimasu" (I have a fever). The part that hurts takes the particle "ga". English speakers use "wa" and say "atama wa itai desu" — the correct form is "atama ga itai desu". Kana corner: pronouncing the body and health words.

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あたまは? あたまが?— atama wa? atama ga?

  1. YukiマMaイiクkuさsaんn、げgeんnきkiがgaなnaいiでdeすsuねne。どうDōしshiまmaしshiたtaかka?Mike, you do not look well. What is wrong?
  2. MikeあAたtaまmaはwaいiたtaいiでdeすsu。そSoしshiてteのnoどdoはwaいiたtaいiでdeすsu。My head hurts. And my throat hurts. (slip: with "itai" the part that hurts takes "ga", not "wa" → atama ga itai desu)
  3. Yuki「あAたtaまmaがgaいiたtaいiでdeすsu」でdeすsu:いiたtaいiとtoこkoろroはwa「がga」をoつtsuかkaいiまmaすsu。It is "atama ga itai desu": the part that hurts uses "ga".
  4. MikeあA、あaたtaまmaがgaいiたtaいiでdeすsu。そSoしshiてteのnoどdoがgaいiたtaいiでdeすsu。ねNeつtsuもmoあaりriまmaすsu。Ah, my head hurts. And my throat hurts. I have a fever too.
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きょうは どうですか?— How do you feel today?

  1. YukiマMaイiクkuさsaんn、きょうkyōはwaどうdōでdeすsuかka?Mike, how do you feel today?
  2. MikeのNoどdoがgaいiたtaいiでdeすsu。あAたtaまmaもmoいiたtaいiでdeすsu。My throat hurts. My head hurts too.
  3. YukiねNeつtsuがgaあaりriまmaすsuかka?Do you have a fever?
  4. MikeはHaいi、ねneつtsuがgaあaりriまmaすsu。びょうByōいiんnにniいiきkiまmaすsu。Yes, I have a fever. I will go to the hospital.
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かkaらraだda

nounbody

あaたtaまma

nounhead

おoなnaかka

nounstomach, belly

のnoどdo

nounthroat

てte

nounhand

あaしshi

nounleg, foot

いiたtaいi

adjectivepainful, sore (i-adj)

ねneつtsu

nounfever

びょうbyōいiんn

nounhospital, clinic

いiしゃsha

noundoctor

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What hurts: "~ga itai desu"

Explanation

When you feel unwell, use "~ga itai desu": atama ga itai desu, nodo ga itai desu, onaka ga itai desu. The part that hurts takes the particle "ga". When you have a fever, say "netsu ga arimasu". To ask, say "dou shimashita ka". English speakers tend to use "wa", thinking it is the topic, and say "atama wa itai desu", but the part that hurts is new information, so use "ga" — "atama ga itai desu". If it is bad, "byouin ni ikimasu" (I go to hospital), "isha ni ikimasu" (I go to the doctor).

Examples

  • あたまが いたいです。My head hurts.
  • のどが いたいです。My throat hurts.
  • ねつが あります。I have a fever.
  • どうしましたか? — おなかが いたいです。What is wrong? — My stomach hurts.
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からだの ことば— Body Words

Read the sentences in hiragana:

  • あたまが いたいですatama ga itai desumy head hurts
  • のどが いたいですnodo ga itai desumy throat hurts
  • ねつが ありますnetsu ga arimasuI have a fever
  • びょういんは どこですかbyōin wa doko desu kawhere is the hospital?

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