N3 · 40 words

Illness and injury

Everyday ailments, small injuries and what is done about them at home.

The words for the doctor's surgery are in another list; these are for the days before a doctor, or instead of one: a graze, a sprain, a temperature that will not go away. Two patterns run through them. Where English says "my", Japanese simply names the body part — 足首(あしくび)をひねる, "twist ankle", 腰(こし)を痛(いた)める, "hurt back" — and a formal kanji word on a notice usually has a plain partner in speech: 発熱(はつねつ) on the sign, 熱(ねつ)が出(で)る when you say it.

The words

Verb (6)

噛むto bite; to chewVerbN3

近所(きんじょ)の犬(いぬ)に手(て)を噛(か)まれて、病院(びょういん)に行(い)った。I was bitten on the hand by a neighbour's dog and went to hospital.

Also to chew: よく噛(か)んで食(た)べる. Often written in kana.

痛めるto hurt; to injure (a part of the body)VerbN3

重(おも)い荷物(にもつ)を持(も)って、腰(こし)を痛(いた)めた。I hurt my back carrying heavy luggage.

ひねるto twistVerbN3

ボールを取(と)ろうとして、足首(あしくび)をひねってしまった。I twisted my ankle trying to catch the ball.

Also turning a tap: 蛇口(じゃぐち)をひねる.

寝込むto be laid up in bedVerbN3

インフルエンザで、一週間(いっしゅうかん)も寝込(ねこ)んでいた。I was laid up in bed with flu for a whole week.

ぶつけるto bump; to bang (against)VerbN3

ドアに頭(あたま)をぶつけて、こぶができた。I banged my head on the door and got a bump.

You bang something: ぶつける; things collide: ぶつかる.

治まるto subside; to ease (of pain, a cough)VerbN3

薬(くすり)を飲(の)んだら、咳(せき)がやっと治(おさ)まった。After I took the medicine, the cough finally eased.

Not 治(なお)る, to recover: 治(おさ)まる means a symptom calms down.

This list belongs to The body and health — seven lists and 281 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.