How to say "chest" in Japanese

• 胸むねJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for the chest of a person or animal, including the emotional sense of the heart or feelings. This is almost always the word you want for the body part.
• 箱はこJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounCovers the container sense of chest: a box-shaped piece of furniture or case for storing things, such as a treasure chest. It never refers to the body; for that sense it is the wrong word.
  その取っ手とってを右みぎにねじると箱はこは開ひらきます。↗

  Twist that knob to the right and the box will open.
• 胸部きょうぶCommon
  nounA more technical, anatomical term for the chest area, typical of medical or formal contexts. Rarely used in casual speech about one's own chest, where 胸 is preferred.
  胸部きょうぶのレントゲンをとってください。↗

  I'd like you to have a chest X-ray.
• 胸元むなもとCommon
  nounRefers to the area around the upper chest or breast, such as where a necklace or brooch is worn, or where someone places a hand. Slightly more specific than 胸, pointing to that spot.

For the body sense use 胸, 胸部, or 胸元 depending on how anatomical or specific you need to be; use 箱 only for a chest as a piece of furniture, a box-like container.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 胸むねchest
• 箱はこbox
• 胸部きょうぶchest
• 胸元むなもとbreast
• チェストchest (of a person's body)
• ひつchest
• 胸郭きょうかくchest
• 胸先むなさきchest
• 胸間きょうかんchest
• 胸板むないたbreast
• 大箱おおばこlarge box
• 収納箱しゅうのうばこstorage box