身 means “body, oneself”

み · mi

Also: somebody, person, one's station in life

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

み

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シン

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 3 · 7 strokes

The story

A figure with a rounded belly: 身 began as a drawing of the body, and still means both body and self. 出身 is where you come from, 身長 is your height, and 刺身, "pierced flesh", is sashimi.

Used in 出身 (shusshin, hometown/origin), 身長 (shinchou, height), and 刺身 (sashimi, sliced raw fish)

More from Life & Breath

• 若 young
• 命 life
• 亡 pass away
• 老 old age
• 抱 hug
• 息 breath
• 吸 inhale
• 祖 ancestor
• 腹 belly
• 眠 sleep
• 活 lively
• 歳 age

Learn 身 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.