Japanese Conversation · Level 101
60 words
Japanese word
半身
Pronunciation
Romajihanshin
Meaning
- nounupper body
Example
写真に半身が写っています。sha shin ni han shin ga utsu tte i ma su
The photo shows the upper body.
More examples
ベッドで半身を起こして、水を飲みます。be ddo de han shin o o ko shi te mizu o no mi ma su
While in bed, I raise my upper body and drink water.
Core concept
Marks the portion above the waist as a distinct unit when a person's body is viewed as a whole.
Common phrases
半身を起こすhan shin o o ko su
raise the upper body
半身を乗り出すhan shin o no ri da su
lean the upper body forward
Similar words
上体jōtai: The upper body regarded as the trunk rather than the arms or legs.
Definition in Japanese
人の体の腰から上の部分。また、その部分を写した写真や映像。hito no karada no koshi ka ra ue no bu bun ma ta so no bu bun o utsu shi ta sha shin ya ei zō
Word origin
半 (han, "half") combines with 身 (shin, "body") in this compound, linking the word to the idea of one half of the body.
Usage tips
- 半身を乗り出す (hanshin o noridasu) is used when someone leans the upper body forward to look or listen more closely.
Other meanings
- half-lengthnoun