Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| お腹 | o-naka | [o̞na̠ka̠] (narrow) [o̞ha̠ɾa̠] (narrow) |
| 腹 | hara | [ha̠ɾa̠] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the term used depends on whether you are referring to the general belly area or the specific biological organ. While お腹 is used for the belly or stomach area, the word 胃 refers specifically to the stomach as an internal organ. Additionally, the expression お腹周り is used to describe the area around the stomach, such as the waistline. To say "I am hungry," the standard idiomatic phrase is お腹が空いた, which literally translates to "the stomach has become empty."
Which one should you use?
お腹 is the polite and standard way to refer to the stomach or belly, making it suitable for most social situations. In contrast, 腹 is a more blunt, visceral and informal way to say belly or gut. It is often used by men or within certain idiomatic expressions.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お腹 is considered the standard, polite way to refer to the stomach in daily conversation. 腹 is more informal, blunt or even rough in register. Use お腹 when speaking to others or when you want to maintain a polite tone.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the word お腹, the お is an honorific prefix that serves to make the noun sound more polite and soft.
How do you pronounce it?
o-naka
Did you know?
- The phrase 腹を割る, which literally means 'to split open one's belly', is a common way to say you are being completely honest or frank with someone.
- The polite form お腹 was originally part of a special category of language called 女房詞, or 'woman's words', designed to make speech more elegant and indirect.
- While English speakers use 'heart' to describe emotions, Japanese culture often views the 'belly' or 腹 as the true seat of a person's intentions and feelings.
Examples in context
- お腹痛いの？Does your stomach hurt?This sentence is useful for asking if someone's stomach hurts using お腹.Tatoeba #2771616 by tommy_san, translation #2771613 by CK
- もう満腹です。My stomach is full.This sentence is useful for expressing that one is full using 腹.Tatoeba #193981 by bunbuku, translation #64037 by CK
- お腹が痛いの。My stomach hurts.This sentence is useful for stating that one's stomach hurts using お腹.Tatoeba #227601 by small_snow, translation #28159 by CK
- 私はお腹が空いています。I'm hungry.
- お腹が痛いですか？Do you have a stomachache?
- おなかがすいた！I'm hungry!
- おなかがいたいな…My stomach hurts…
- 胃が弱いです。I have a weak stomach.
- 最近お腹周りが気になります。Lately, I've been concerned about my waistline.
- 45 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori and Kenta are talking about being hungry.
- 陽葵 Himariお腹が空いたね。Onaka ga suita ne.I'm hungry, aren't you?
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。何か食べよう。Hontō da. Nanika tabeyō.You're right. Let's eat something.
- 陽葵 Himariお腹いっぱいまで食べたい！Onaka ippai made tabetai!I want to eat until my stomach is full!
- 健太 Kentaいいよ。たくさん食べよう。Ii yo. Takusan tabeyō.Sure. Let's eat a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stomach” translations and entries お腹, 腹, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries お腹, 腹, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
