お腹

• Reading: おなか
• Romaji: onaka
• Kanji breakdown: 腹 (fuku/hara) — belly, abdomen; お is an honorific prefix
• Pronunciation: /o.na.ka/

Meaning

Belly; abdomen; stomach. The front midsection of the body.

A polite form of 腹 (hara). Most commonly heard in お腹が空いた (I'm hungry) and お腹がいっぱい (I'm full). The お prefix makes it softer and more polite — 腹 on its own sounds rougher and more masculine. Also used for stomach-related discomfort: お腹が痛い (stomachache).

Examples

1. お腹が空いたので何か食べたい。 I'm hungry so I want to eat something.
2. お昼ご飯をたくさん食べてお腹がいっぱいです。 I ate a lot for lunch and I'm full.
3. 冷たいものを飲みすぎてお腹が痛い。 I drank too many cold drinks and my stomach hurts.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, food, health

Tone: friendly

Origin & History

From 腹 (hara, belly) with the polite prefix お. The kanji 腹 combines 月 (body/flesh radical) and 复 (return), suggesting the centre of the body.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal