中身

• Reading: なかみ
• Romaji: nakami
• Kanji breakdown: 中 (chuu/naka) — inside, middle; 身 (shin/mi) — body, substance
• Pronunciation: /na.ka.mi/

Meaning

Contents; interior; substance. What is inside something, literally or figuratively.

A noun referring to what is inside something, both literally (the contents of a bag, box, or container) and figuratively (the substance or essence of a person or thing). Common collocations: 中身を確認する (nakami wo kakunin suru, to check the contents), 中身が濃い (nakami ga koi, substantial/rich in content), 中身のある人 (nakami no aru hito, a person of substance).

Examples

1. プレゼントの中身が気になって仕方ない。 I can't help wondering what's inside the present.
2. 見た目より中身が大切だとよく言われる。 People often say that what's on the inside matters more than looks.
3. カバンの中身を全部出して整理した。 I took everything out of my bag and organized it.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, evaluation, shopping

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 中 (naka, inside/middle) and 身 (mi, body/substance). Literally 'the body/substance within' — what is contained inside something.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal