身の回り

みのまわり

one's personal appearance, personal belongings

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"身の回り" refers to things related to one's personal surroundings, including belongings, appearance, and daily necessities. It often implies the immediate environment or items a person regularly uses.

Common Contexts

This word is frequently used when talking about organizing personal items, managing daily life, or discussing care and support for someone's personal needs.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 身の回りの整理 (organizing personal belongings): used when tidying or arranging one's things.
  • 身の回りの世話 (taking care of personal needs): often used in contexts of caregiving or assistance.
  • 身の回りのことをする (to handle personal matters): implies managing one's own affairs.

Register and Nuance

"身の回り" is a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It emphasizes the personal and immediate nature of the items or matters discussed.

Learner Tips

Be careful not to confuse "身の回り" with broader terms like "生活" (life) or "環境" (environment). "身の回り" specifically focuses on personal belongings and immediate surroundings, not general lifestyle or environment.

Example Sentences

みのまわりのせいりをしてからでかけましょう。

Let's tidy up our personal belongings before going out.

かれはみのまわりのことをじぶんでぜんぶやる。

He takes care of all his personal matters by himself.

みのまわりのせわをしてくれるひとがいるとあんしんだ。

It's reassuring to have someone who takes care of your personal needs.