bụng
[ʔɓʊwŋ͡m˧˨ʔ]
The English word "abdomen" is bụng in Vietnamese.
bụng is the most commonly used word for abdomen and is a neutral term. To specify the lower part of the abdomen, you can use bụng dưới.
Meaning: belly (noun)
Did you know?
- While English speakers associate 'heart' with emotion, traditional Vietnamese culture often views the 'bụng' or the intestines as the true seat of a person's feelings.
- In Vietnamese, the word 'dạ' can refer to the stomach or belly, but it also serves as a highly polite particle used when answering elders.
- bụng shares an ancient root with the Khmer word ពុង ('pung') and the Mon word ဗုၚ် ('pɜ̀ŋ').
Examples in context
- Tôi cảm thấy đau ở bụng.I feel pain in my abdomen/stomach.
- Tôi cảm thấy hơi đau ở bụng.I feel a little pain in my belly.
- Em bé đang đạp vào bụng mẹ.The baby is kicking against the mother's belly.
- Đừng ấn vào bụng tôi.Don't press on my belly.
Example conversation
Tuấn and Mai are talking about health at home.
- TuấnMai ơi, anh thấy hơi đau bụng.Mai, I feel a bit of pain in my stomach.
- MaiAnh đã ăn gì lạ không, Tuấn?Did you eat anything unusual, Tuấn?
- TuấnAnh chỉ uống một ly sữa thôi.I only drank one glass of milk.
- MaiVậy anh hãy nằm nghỉ một lát đi.Then you should lie down and rest for a while.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “abdomen” translations and entries bụng, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bụng, CC BY-SA 4.0.
