腹痛
The English phrase "stomach pain" is translated into Japanese as 腹痛.
腹痛 is a noun used to refer to stomach pain.
Which one should you use?
腹痛 is a noun used in medical contexts or formal reports, whereas the phrase お腹が痛い is a descriptive phrase used by patients to communicate symptoms.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While 腹痛 is a formal medical term, the phrase お腹が痛い is the natural way to express having a stomach ache in daily conversation. For more specific formal expressions, you can use 胃の痛みがあります to say "I have pain in my stomach" or 腹部の不快感があります to say "I have discomfort in my abdominal region." In informal settings, you might say お腹が痛い for "I have stomach pain" or 胃がキリキリする for "I have a sharp pain in my stomach."
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 腹 (hara) does not just mean 'stomach' but represents the center of one's true intentions and emotions. The phrase 腹を割る (hara o waru), meaning 'to cut open the stomach', is used to describe speaking honestly and openly to someone.
- The phrase 腹が立つ (hara ga tatsu) uses the same word for 'stomach' as 腹痛, but it actually means 'to get angry'.
- The expression 胃がキリキリする (i ga kirikiri suru) uses an onomatopoeic word to describe a piercing or stabbing pain. Japanese has a vast library of these 'mimetic' words to describe the specific texture of pain that 'stomach pain' alone cannot capture.
Examples in context
- 先生、お腹が痛いです。Teacher, I have stomach pain.
- 今、腹部の不快感があります。病院に行くべきでしょうか？I currently have discomfort in my abdominal region. Should I go to the hospital?
- おい、お腹が痛いんだ。Hey, I have stomach pain.
- うわぁ！胃がキリキリするよ。Whoa! I have a sharp pain in my stomach.
- 急な腹痛で病院へ行きました。kyuuna fukutsuu de byouin e ikimashita.I went to the hospital due to sudden stomach pain.
- 激しい腹痛が続いています。hageshii fukutsuu ga tsuzuite imasu.Severe stomach pain is continuing.
- 腹痛のときは安静にしてください。fukutsuu no toki wa ansei ni shite kudasai.Please rest when you have stomach pain.
Example conversation
Misaki is visiting a doctor with Kenta.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さん、大丈夫ですか。Kenta-san, daijoubu desu ka.Kenta, are you okay?
- 健太 Kentaさっきから腹痛がします。Sakki kara fukutsuu ga shimasu.I've had stomach pain for a while.
- 美咲 Misakiすぐに先生に伝えましょう。Sugu ni sensei ni tsutaemashou.Let's tell the doctor right away.
- 健太 Kentaお願いします。Onegaishimasu.Please do.
