1One's body or physical person; the physical self.
怪我をしたら、まず身を休めることが大切だ。
If you get injured, it's important to rest your body first.
危険を感じたので、とっさに身を引いた。
Sensing danger, I instinctively pulled my body back.
寒さで身が縮むように感じた。
I felt as if my body was shrinking from the cold.
2Oneself, or one's personal appearance; used in expressions like 身だしなみ (grooming) and 身なり (attire).
面接では身だしなみに気をつけ、身を正して臨んだ。
For the interview, I paid attention to my grooming and presented myself properly.
一人暮らしを始めてから、身の回りのことは自分でやるようになった。
After I started living alone, I began taking care of my personal affairs myself.
自分の身を守る方法を学ぶことは重要だ。
Learning how to protect yourself is important.
3One's place or position in society; the role or standing one occupies, as in the expressions 身の程 (one's social standing) and 身を置く (to place oneself in).
彼は田舎を出て、都会で身を立てるために働いた。
He left the countryside and worked to make a name for himself in the city.
会社では自分の身の程をわきまえて行動すべきだ。
At the company, you should act with an awareness of your own position.
その場では身の置き所がなく、早めに退席した。
I felt out of place there, so I left early.
4The main or central part of something, as opposed to bone, skin, handle, or lid — e.g., the flesh of a fish or the heartwood of a tree.
焼き魚の身をほぐしてご飯にのせた。
I flaked the flesh of the grilled fish and put it on the rice.
古い木材でも、木の身はしっかりしていることがある。
Even old timber can sometimes have solid heartwood.