肚子

• Pinyin: dù zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 肚 = 月 (flesh radical) + 土 (phonetic component); 子 = noun suffix

Meaning

Stomach; belly; abdomen. The front part of the body between the chest and legs.

Used in many everyday expressions: 肚子饿 (hungry), 肚子疼 (stomachache), 肚子大 (big belly). Can refer to the stomach organ or the general abdominal area. A very common word in daily conversation about health, food, and feelings.

Examples

1. 我肚子好饿，我们去吃饭吧。 I'm so hungry — let's go eat.
2. 吃了不干净的东西，肚子疼了一整天。 After eating something unclean, my stomach hurt all day.
3. 她怀孕了，肚子已经很大了。 She's pregnant, and her belly is already quite big.

Usage Guide

Context: body, everyday, health

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我肚子饿了，想吃点东西。(I'm hungry — I want to eat something.)
• 他肚子不舒服，今天请假了。(His stomach is upset, so he took the day off.)

Don't Say

• 在正式场合说'肚子' (In formal or medical settings, use 腹部 instead of 肚子 — 肚子 is colloquial and may sound too casual)

Origin & History

Composed of 肚 (belly, from 月/肉 flesh radical + 土 phonetic) and the noun suffix 子. Originally referred specifically to the stomach, then broadened to the whole abdominal area.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal