身|みmi[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounone's body; one's person
2. nounoneself; one's appearance
3. nounone's place (in society, etc.); one's position
4. nounmain part; meat (as opposed to bone, skin, etc.); wood (as opposed to bark); blade (as opposed to its handle); container (as opposed to its lid)

• Synonym体からだNeutralThe everyday word for the physical body and physique. 「身」 is more abstract, also meaning oneself or one's position, as in 「身を守る」.
• Synonym身体しんたいNeutralThe same word, also written 「身体」: the concrete body and one's health. 「身」 tends to appear in set phrases about one's situation, e.g. 「身の上」 and 「身分」.
• Synonym骨身ほねみNeutralFlesh and bones, i.e. the whole body; used almost entirely in idioms such as 「骨身にしみる」 and 「骨身を惜しまず」.
• RelatedボディーNeutralLoanword for the body or physique; also a car body or a boxing body blow. Common in beauty, fitness and sports talk.
• Related肉体にくたいNeutralThe flesh-and-blood body, opposed to the mind or spirit; can carry a sexual nuance, as in 「肉体関係」. 「身」 more often refers to oneself or one's circumstances.
• Related五体ごたいWrittenWritten-style word for the head and four limbs, i.e. the whole body; mostly in fixed phrases such as 「五体満足」 and 「五体投地」.
• Related体躯たいくWrittenFormal written word for the physique or build, typically describing its size, as in 「堂々たる体躯」.
• Related図体ずうたいCasualColloquial and often unflattering: a huge, hulking frame, as in 「図体ばかり大きい」.
• Related御身おんみFormalHonorific for the other person's body or health, or for the person themselves; seen in letters and classical writing, rare today.
• Antonym心こころNeutralThe mind and heart, the opposite pole to 「身」 in body-and-mind pairings such as 「身も心も」.
• Antonym精神せいしんNeutralMind, spirit and will, contrasted with 「肉体」 and with 「身」; 「身」 stresses the bodily side.

For the everyday body, say 「体」. 「身」 is for oneself, one's situation and idioms like 「身を守る」. When contrasting body and mind, use 「肉体」; for the whole body, head and limbs, 「五体」 as in 「五体満足」.

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

1. （み）体たい、身体しんたい。
2. （み）魚さかななどの肉にくの部分ぶぶん。
3. （み）自分自身じぶんじしん。