人間(にんげん)ドック

Composed of 人間(にんげん) (human) + ドック (dock), borrowing the nautical metaphor of a ship entering dry dock for thorough maintenance. A Japanese-coined term referring to a voluntary, comprehensive health checkup that goes well beyond the basic annual checkup. Not usually covered by public health insurance, though many employers and insurance plans subsidize it.

Common collocations

• 人間(にんげん)ドックを受(う)ける: to have a comprehensive medical checkup
• 人間(にんげん)ドックの結果(けっか): comprehensive checkup results
• 人間(にんげん)ドックの予約(よやく): comprehensive checkup reservation
• 一(いち)日(にち)人間(にんげん)ドック: one-day comprehensive checkup
• 日帰(ひがえ)り人間(にんげん)ドック: same-day (non-overnight) comprehensive checkup

Similar words

• 健康診断(けんこうしんだん): health checkup — the basic annual checkup, usually free through employers or municipalities
• 定期健診(ていきけんしん): regular health checkup — routine, employer-provided
• 脳(のう)ドック: brain checkup — a specialized version focusing on the brain (using MRI/CT)

Cultural note

人間(にんげん)ドックs are a distinctively Japanese institution and are associated with taking preventive care of one's health, especially from middle age onward. They are often considered a responsible "adult" habit.