Translation and Meaning of: 健康 - kenkou
The Japanese word 健康[けんこう] is essential for anyone wishing to understand more about well-being in Japan. Its meaning goes beyond a simple translation, reflecting deep cultural values. In this article, we will explore what this word represents, its origin, everyday usage, and how it is perceived in Japanese society. If you are learning Japanese or just curious about the topic, you will discover valuable information here.
健康 [けんこう] is often used in contexts involving physical and mental health, but it also appears in everyday expressions and phrases. In addition to explaining its meaning, we will cover tips to memorize this word and how it is applied in different situations. Suki Nihongo, the best Japanese dictionary, provides details that help to better understand its actual usage.
Meaning and use of 健康 [けんこう]
The most common translation of 健康[けんこう] is "health," but its meaning encomes both physical and mental aspects. In Japan, maintaining 健康 is considered a priority, influencing everything from dietary habits to exercise practices. Companies promote wellness programs, and even animes and dramas often address the topic.
An interesting feature is that 健康 is not limited to individuals. It can be used to describe the health of animals, plants, and even systems, such as a country's "economic health." This versatility allows the word to appear in various contexts, from medical consultations to news reports.
Origin and writing of 健康
The word 健康 is composed of two kanji: 健 (ken), which means "health" or "strength," and 康 (kou), which conveys the idea of "peace" or "well-being." Together, they form a balanced concept, reflecting the importance of harmony between body and mind in Japanese culture. This combination is not random, but rather a representation of traditional values.
It is worth noting that 健康 is a word of Chinese origin, incorporated into Japanese centuries ago. Despite this, its use in Japan has gained its own nuances over time. For example, while in Chinese it may carry a more formal tone, in Japanese it is common in everyday conversations, such as when asking "お元気ですか?" (How is your health?).
Tips for memorizing and using 健康
An effective way to reinforce 健康[けんこう] is to associate it with practical situations. Phrases like "健康に気をつけて" (Take care of your health) or "健康診断" (medical check-up) are real usage examples. Repeating these expressions out loud helps to internalize not just the word, but also its correct application.
Another tip is to observe how 健康 appears in animes, dramas, or even on product packaging in Japan. Many foods highlight "健康に良い" (good for health) as a benefit. This constant exposure makes memorization easier and shows the relevance of the word in everyday Japanese life.
Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with related words:
Synonyms and similar words
- 健全 (Kenzen) - Healthy, solid.
- 健やか (Sukoyaka) - Healthy, vigorous, especially related to growth and development.
- 良好 (Ryōkō) - Good, in good condition, but not necessarily healthy.
- 健康的 (Kenkōteki) - Healthy, in a way that promotes health.
- 健康な (Kenkōna) - Healthy, generally used to describe the state of being healthy.
- 健康状態 (Kenkō jōtai) - Health status, physical condition.
- 健康状況 (Kenkō jōkyō) - Health situation, health conditions.
- 健康状態良好 (Kenkō jōtai ryōkō) - Health status in good condition.
- 健康である (Kenkō de aru) - Be healthy.
- 健康であること (Kenkō de aru koto) - The fact of being healthy.
- 健康に生きる (Kenkō ni ikiru) - Live a healthy life.
- 健康を保つ (Kenkō o tamotsu) - Maintain health.
- 健康を維持する (Kenkō o iji suru) - Maintain health status.
- 健康を害する (Kenkō o gaisuru) - Harm health, damage health.
- 健康に気をつける (Kenkō ni ki o tsukeru) - Take care of your health.
- 健康管理 (Kenkō kanri) - Health management, health istration.
- 健康増進 (Kenkō zōshin) - Health promotion, activities to improve health.
Related words
Romaji: kenkou
Kana: けんこう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3
Translation / Meaning: health; sound; healthy
Meaning in English: health;sound;wholesome
Definition: A healthy mind and body.
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How to Write in Japanese - (健康) kenkou
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (健康) kenkou:
Example Sentences - (健康) kenkou
See below some example sentences:
Nyuu wa kenkou ni yoi tabemono desu
Milk is a healthy food.
Milk is a good health food.
- 乳 (nyuu) - milk
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 健康 (kenkou) - health
- に (ni) - target particle
- 良い (yoi) - good
- 食べ物 (tabemono) - food
- です (desu) - verb to be"
Fuketsu na hito wa kenkō ni aku eikyō o ataeru kanōsei ga arimasu
The dirty person can have a negative impact on health.
Dirty people may have a negative effect on health.
- 不潔な人 (fuketsu na hito) - dirty person
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 健康 (kenkou) - health
- に (ni) - target particle
- 悪影響 (aku eikyou) - negative effect
- を (wo) - object particle
- 与える (ataeru) - cause
- 可能性 (kanousei) - possibility
- が (ga) - subject particle
- あります (arimasu) - exists
Toreeningu wo suru koto wa kenkouteki na seikatsu ni kakasenai
Training is essential for a healthy life.
Training is indispensable for a healthy life.
- トレーニング - - word in Japanese that means "training".
- をすることは - - expression in Japanese that indicates the action of doing something, in this case, the training.
- 健康的な - - word in Japanese that means "healthy".
- 生活に - - a Japanese expression that indicates the relationship with lifestyle.
- 欠かせない - - word in Japanese that means "indispensable" or "essential".
Sutoresu wa kenkō ni aku eikyō o ataeru kanōsei ga arimasu
Stress can have a negative impact on health.
Stress can have a negative effect on your health.
- ストレス - Japanese word meaning "stress"
- は - Particle in Japanese that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "stress"
- 健康 - Word in Japanese that means "health"
- に - Particle in Japanese that indicates the relationship between "stress" and "health", in this case, "affects health"
- 悪影響 - Japanese word meaning "negative effect"
- を - particle in Japanese that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "negative effect"
- 与える - Japanese verb that means "to cause"
- 可能性 - Word in Japanese that means "possibility"
- が - particle in Japanese that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "possibility"
- あります - Verb in Japanese that means "to exist", in this case, "there is a possibility"
- . - period to indicate the end of the sentence
Tabako wo suu no wa kenkou ni warui desu
Smoking is harmful to health.
Smoking cigarettes is bad for your health.
- タバコ - tobacco - cigarette
- を - wo - direct object particle
- 吸う - suu - smoke, inhale
- のは - no wa - Topic particle
- 健康 - kenkou - health
- に - ni - target particle
- 悪い - warui - bad, harmful
- です - is (a Japanese copula, often used to indicate a state of being) Verb to be/estar
Marason wa kenkou ni yoi undou desu
Marathon is a healthy exercise.
The marathon is a good exercise for your health.
- マラソン - Marathon
- は - Topic particle
- 健康 - health
- に - Target particle
- 良い - Good
- 運動 - exercise
- です - sentence-final particle
Rekurieeshon wa kenkouteki na seikatsu ni hitsuyou desu
Recreation is necessary for a healthy life.
Recreation is necessary for a healthy life.
- レクリエーション - Recreation
- は - Topic particle
- 健康的な - Healthy
- 生活 - Life
- に - Destination particle
- 必要 - Necessary
- です - Verb to be
Fukisoku na seikatsu wa kenkou ni aku eikyou wo ataeru
An irregular lifestyle negatively affects health.
An irregular life has a negative effect on health.
- 不規則な - irregular
- 生活 - lifestyle
- は - partícula que indica o tópico da frase
- 健康に - para saúde
- 悪影響を - negative impact
- 与える - dar
Karada wo kitaeru koto wa kenkou ni yoi desu
Exercising the body is good for health.
Training your body is good for your health.
- 体を鍛えること - means "exercising the body".
- は - topic particle.
- 健康に - means "for health".
- 良いです - means "it's good".
Hoken wa kenkou wo mamoru tame ni hitsuyou na mono desu
Health is necessary to protect your health.
- 保健 - Public health
- は - Topic particle
- 健康 - health
- を - direct object particle
- 守る - protect
- ために - for
- 必要な - necessary
- もの - thing
- です - be (linking verb)
Other Words of this Type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
katagata
people; this and that; here and there; everywhere; anyway; all sides; all gentlemen; all people
