Translation and Meaning of: 医者 - isha

If you are studying Japanese, you've probably come across the word 医者 (いしゃ), which means "doctor." But do you know where it comes from, how the Japanese use it in their daily lives, or why this specific kanji was chosen? In this article, we will explore the etymology, the meaning behind the ideograms, and even tips for memorizing this essential word. Additionally, as Suki Nihongo is the largest online Japanese dictionary, you'll also learn practical phrases to include in your Anki and boost your studies.

Many people search on Google not only for the translation of 医者, but also its origin, how to write it correctly, and even trivia about the term. After all, is there a funny pun involving doctors in Japan? Or does this word have any interesting historical connections? Let's uncover all of this below.

Etymology and origin of the kanji 医者

The word 医者 is composed of two kanji: 医 (い), which means "medicine" or "healing," and 者 (しゃ), which indicates "person" or "one who does." Together, they form the term for "one who practices medicine" – that is, a doctor. The kanji 医, in turn, has an interesting history: it derives from the ancient Chinese character that represented an arrow inside a container, symbolizing the extraction of something harmful, like removing an arrow from a wound.

It is worth noting that 医者 is not the only word for "doctor" in Japanese – there is also 医師 (いし) and 先生 (せんせい), the latter used as a respectful form of address. However, 医者 is the most colloquial and widely used term in everyday conversation. If you have ever watched a medical dorama, like "Doctor X", you surely heard this word being used repeatedly.

Lies in daily life and cultural curiosities

In Japan, calling someone 医者 is common, but in more formal contexts or when addressing the professional directly, the Japanese often use 先生 (sensei). A cultural curiosity is that, unlike in Brazil, where we often address doctors by their first name, in Japan respect for the title is taken very seriously. Have you ever imagined walking into a doctor's office and calling the doctor "Tanaka-san" instead of "Tanaka-sensei"? It's better not to risk it!

Another interesting point is that, although 医者 is gender-neutral, there is a specific word for "female doctor": 女医 (じょい, joi). This reflects a bit of the history of medicine in Japan, where female doctors were less common in the past. Nowadays, however, more and more Japanese women are pursuing this career, and the term 女医 no longer carries a pejorative tone as it did before.

Tips for memorization and writing

To remember how to write 医者, a useful technique is to break down the kanjis. The first one, 医, has the radical 匸 (to hide) and 矢 (arrow), as we mentioned earlier. 者 is simpler: think of "someone" (者) who "practices medicine" (医). A little mental story can help: imagine a doctor removing a hidden arrow from a patient's body – dramatic, but effective for memorizing the kanji!

If you use apps like Anki or Memrise, try creating flashcards with images of hospitals or stethoscopes associated with the word. Another tip is to practice with everyday sentences, such as 医者に行きます (I will go to the doctor) or 医者に診てもらう (to be examined by a doctor). This way, you learn the vocabulary in context, which greatly facilitates long-term memorization.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 医師 (ishi) - Doctor (general term for physician)
• 医者さん (isha-san) - Doctor (respectful and informal form)
• 医者様 (isha-sama) - Doctor (very respectful form)
• 医師さん (ishi-san) - Doctor (respectful and informal form; similar to 医者さん)
• 医師様 (ishi-sama) - Doctor (very respectful form; similar to 医者様)
• 医師先生 (ishi-sensei) - Physician (similar to "professor"; used for doctors)
• 医師方 (ishi-gata) - Doctors (plural term, more formal)
• 医師陣 (ishi-jin) - Medical team
• 医師団 (ishi-dan) - Team of doctors (usually for missions or campaigns)
• 医師仲間 (ishi-nakama) - Medical colleagues (informal term for colleagues)
• 医師達 (ishi-tachi) - Doctors
• 医師の方々 (ishi no hokagata) - Medical professionals

医者

Romaji: isha
Kana: いしゃ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: doctor (doctor)

Meaning in English: doctor (medical)

Definition: A medical professional who diagnoses and treats diseases or injuries.

Example Sentences - (医者) isha

See below some example sentences:

症状が出たらすぐに医者に相談しましょう。

Shoujou ga detara sugu ni isha ni soudan shimashou

If you have symptoms

Talk to your doctor as soon as you have symptoms.

• 症状 (shoujou) - symptoms
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 出たら (detara) - if they appear
• すぐに (sugu ni) - immediately
• 医者 (isha) - doctor
• に (ni) - target particle
• 相談 (soudan) - Query
• しましょう (shimashou) - let's do it

発病したらすぐに医者に診てもらいましょう。

Hatsubyou shitara sugu ni isha ni mite moraimashou

if you get sick

Ask your doctor as soon as you get sick.

• 発病したら - "hatsubyou shitara" means "when you get sick"
• すぐに - "sugu ni" means "immediately"
• 医者に - "isha ni" means "to a doctor"
• 診てもらいましょう - "mite moraimashou" means "let's ask to be examined"

私は医者に診てもらいました。

Watashi wa isha ni mirare mashita

I was examined by a doctor.

I had a doctor examined.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle, which indicates the subject of the sentence
• 医者 - noun that means "doctor"
• に - Particle indicating the target of the action
• 診てもらいました - verb that means "to receive a medical examination"

私の志望は医者です。

Watashi no shibou wa isha desu

My aspiration is to be a doctor.

My aspirant is a doctor.

• 私の志望 - means "my aspiration" or "my goal". It consists of two kanji - 私 (watashi) meaning "I" and 志望 (shibou) meaning "aspiration" or "goal".
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "my aspiration".
• 医者 - means "doctor". It consists of two kanji - 医 (i) meaning "medicine" or "doctor" and 者 (sha) meaning "person" or "individual".
• です - verb "to be" in its polite and polished form. It is used to indicate the existence or identity of something or someone.