胃腸

• Reading: いちょう
• Romaji: ichou
• Kanji breakdown: 胃 (i) — stomach; 腸 (chō) — intestines, bowels
• Pronunciation: /i.tɕoː/

Meaning

Stomach and intestines; the gastrointestinal tract. Refers collectively to the digestive organs.

A compound referring to the stomach (胃) and intestines (腸) together. Used in everyday speech as well as medical contexts. Common phrases include 胃腸が弱い (having a sensitive stomach/digestion) and 胃腸炎 (gastroenteritis). Often used when discussing digestive health broadly.

Examples

1. ストレスが続くと胃腸に影響が出やすい体質だ。 I have a constitution where ongoing stress tends to affect my gastrointestinal tract.
2. 旅行中に食べ過ぎて胃腸を壊してしまった。 I ate too much while traveling and ended up upsetting my stomach.
3. この薬は胃腸の調子を整えるために処方されました。 This medication was prescribed to help regulate the digestive system.

Usage Guide

Context: medicine, daily life, digestion, health talk

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 胃 (i, stomach) and 腸 (chō, intestines). Both characters represent specific digestive organs; combined, they refer to the gastrointestinal system as a whole.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: General