Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Living" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "living", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
生き物
いきもの (ikimono)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
生身
なまみ (namami)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "living" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 生き物 and 生身.
In Japanese, 生き物 (いきもの (ikimono)) is typically associated with "living thing, creature" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents A general term for any living organism, including animals, insects, and sometimes plants.
On the other hand, 生身 (なまみ (namami)) maps to "living flesh; living body; real person" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents 血の通った人間の体、または感情を持った生きた人間そのものを指す。デジタル化されたものや機械とは対比的に使われることが多い。. A literal translation of "living" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "生き物"
地球上には様々な生き物が住んでいます。
Various living things live on Earth.
Bilingual Context for "生身"
コンピューターではなく、生身の人間と話したい。
I want to talk to a real person, not a computer.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "地球上には様々な ＿＿＿ が住んでいます。" (Meaning: "Various living things live on Earth.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "生き物" fits here because it means "living thing, creature" in the context of: "Various living things live on Earth.". "生身" represents "living flesh; living body; real person".