Health & Body

Japanese slang for health, fitness, mental wellbeing, and body image

Introduction

Health and wellness culture in Japan has produced its own slang. From 筋トレ (muscle training) to 病む (getting mentally worn down), these terms reflect modern Japan’s relationship with physical and mental health.

This chapter covers slang related to health, fitness, and wellbeing.

Themes

All Japanese Slang in This Chapter (80)

• 筋トレ Weight training or muscle-building exercise — the go-to abbreviation for any ...
• セルフケア Self-care — the practice of deliberately looking after your own physical and ...
• メンタル One's mental state or emotional condition — used casually to talk about psych...
• メンタルヘルス Mental health — awareness and care of psychological wellbeing, often used in ...
• メンタル崩壊 Mental breakdown or emotional collapse — often used dramatically on social me...
• メンタル強い Mentally strong or resilient — able to handle pressure, criticism, and setbac...
• メンタル弱い Mentally fragile or emotionally sensitive — easily stressed, hurt, or overwhe...
• 豆腐メンタル Tofu mentality — an extremely fragile emotional state that crumbles at the sl...
• 鋼メンタル Steel mentality — unbreakable mental fortitude that nothing can shake or damage.
• ストレス Stress — mental or physical tension from daily life pressures like work, rela...
• ストレス発散 Stress relief or blowing off steam — releasing built-up tension through activ...
• バーンアウト Burnout — complete physical and emotional exhaustion from chronic overwork or...
• 燃え尽き Burned out — emotionally and physically depleted after intense effort or prol...
• うつ Depression — feeling deeply down, low, or unable to function, used both clini...
• 適応障害 Adjustment disorder — psychological distress caused by difficulty adapting to...
• HSP Highly Sensitive Person — someone who is easily overstimulated by sensory inp...
• 発達障害 Developmental disorder — an umbrella term covering ADHD, ASD, and learning di...
• ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder — a neurodevelopmental condition inc...
• カウンセリング Counseling or therapy — professional psychological support sessions, graduall...
• マインドフルネス Mindfulness — the practice of present-moment awareness through meditation, wi...
• 瞑想 Meditation — the practice of quiet contemplation and mental focus, revived by...
• ヨガ Yoga — a hugely popular wellness exercise combining physical poses, breathing...
• ピラティス Pilates — a core-focused exercise method emphasizing posture, alignment, and ...
• サウナ Sauna — hot steam bathing that has become a massive wellness trend in Japan, ...
• ととのう To achieve a blissful, euphoric state through the sauna-cold water-rest cycle...
• サ活 Sauna activity — the hobby of regularly going to saunas, tracking visits, and...
• 整体 Chiropractic-style body adjustment therapy — manual manipulation of the body ...
• マッサージ Massage — body relaxation treatment ranging from professional therapeutic ses...
• ジム Gym or fitness center — a place for exercise and training, from budget chains...
• パーソナルジム Personal training gym — a private gym where you train one-on-one with a dedic...
• ライザップ RIZAP — Japan's most famous personal training gym chain, known for dramatic b...
• 有酸素 Cardio or aerobic exercise — any exercise that gets the heart rate up, like r...
• プロテイン Protein shake or protein supplement — an essential part of Japanese fitness c...
• サプリ Supplement — a vitamin, mineral, or health supplement in pill or powder form,...
• 美容サプリ Beauty supplement — pills or drinks marketed to improve skin, hair, nails, an...
• 腸活 Gut health activity — the practice of improving intestinal flora through diet...
• 温活 Warming activity — the wellness practice of raising body temperature through ...
• 朝活 Early morning activity — the practice of waking up early to exercise, study, ...
• 眠活 Sleep optimization activity — the deliberate practice of improving sleep qual...
• 睡眠負債 Sleep debt — the accumulated deficit from chronically not getting enough slee...
• 夜型 A night owl; someone who naturally functions better and stays active late at ...
• 朝型 A morning person; someone who naturally wakes up early and is most productive...
• ショートスリーパー A short sleeper; someone who functions well on very little sleep, typically u...
• スマホ首 Text neck; neck pain or poor posture caused by constantly looking down at a s...
• 眼精疲労 Eye strain; fatigue and discomfort in the eyes from prolonged screen use or r...
• ブルーライト Blue light emitted from digital screens, believed to disrupt sleep and cause ...
• デジタルデトックス Digital detox; intentionally taking a break from smartphones, social media, a...
• ファスティング Fasting, especially intermittent fasting practiced for health, weight managem...
• ダイエット Diet; losing weight through food restriction, exercise, or lifestyle changes.
• リバウンド Weight rebound; regaining weight after a diet, often ending up heavier than b...
• 体脂肪率 Body fat percentage; a key health and fitness metric measuring the proportion...
• BMI Body Mass Index; a widely used health metric calculated from height and weight.
• 痩せ型 Slim body type; a naturally thin build, sometimes implying being underweight.
• ぽっちゃり Chubby; plump in a cute, endearing way — a softer alternative to calling some...
• ボディポジティブ Body positivity; the movement to accept and celebrate all body types regardle...
• 美意識 Beauty consciousness; the level of awareness and effort someone puts into mai...
• 美容医療 Cosmetic medical procedures; aesthetic treatments performed by medical profes...
• 脱毛 Hair removal; professional depilation through laser, light-based, or salon tr...
• 肌荒れ Skin breakout or rough skin; a condition where the skin becomes irritated, bu...
• ニキビ Acne; pimples that appear on the face or body, a universal skin concern espec...
• スキンケア Skincare routine; the daily regimen of cleansing, moisturizing, and treating ...
• エステ Aesthetic salon; a beauty treatment facility offering facials, body treatment...
• アンチエイジング Anti-aging; products, treatments, and practices aimed at preventing or revers...
• 免疫力 Immune system strength; the body's ability to fight off illness and infection.
• 自律神経 Autonomic nervous system; often referenced in the context of stress-related i...
• 冷え性 A chronic tendency to feel cold, especially in the extremities; poor circulat...
• 肩こり Stiff shoulders; chronic tension and pain in the shoulder and upper back area.
• 腰痛 Lower back pain; a common physical complaint especially among working adults ...
• 二日酔い対策 Hangover prevention or cure measures; strategies and products for dealing wit...
• ウェルネス Wellness; a holistic approach to health encompassing physical, mental, and sp...
• QOL Quality of life; a measure of overall wellbeing and life satisfaction beyond ...
• ルーティン Routine; a set of daily habits or rituals performed regularly for productivit...
• ナイトルーティン Nighttime routine; an evening ritual of self-care, relaxation, and sleep prep...
• モーニングルーティン Morning routine; a set of morning habits shared on social media, often aspira...
• 白湯 Plain hot water drunk for health; a simple wellness trend of drinking boiled-...
• 漢方 Traditional herbal medicine based on Chinese medicine adapted to Japan; natur...
• 置き換え Meal replacement diet; substituting one or more meals with shakes, smoothies,...
• オートファジー Autophagy; the body's cellular self-cleaning process, popularized as a buzzwo...
• 天気痛 Weather-related pain; headaches, joint aches, or general malaise triggered by...
• 歯列矯正 Orthodontic treatment; getting braces or aligners to straighten teeth, a majo...