How to say "abdomen" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 腹はらnounThe plain word for the belly or abdomen, the whole midsection; in neutral speech this is the default choice, while お腹 is its politeness-marked counterpart.
- お腹おなかnounThe polite way to say belly or stomach; the natural choice in polite conversation with strangers or superiors, or whenever a softer tone is wanted.
- 腹部ふくぶnounThe anatomical or medical term for the abdomen and abdominal region; found in medical writing, diagnoses and news reports of injuries, rather than in casual talk about the belly.
- 下っ腹したっぱらnounA casual word for the lower belly, the part of the abdomen below the navel; use it only when you mean that lower region, not the abdomen as a whole.
- 胴どうnounPrimarily the trunk or torso, the body without head and limbs; 'abdomen' is only a secondary sense, so this is seldom the word you want when you mean the belly specifically.
Use 「お腹」 for the belly in polite speech, 腹 as the plain neutral word, 腹部 for the anatomical or medical abdomen, 「下っ腹」 for the lower belly, and 胴 only when you mean the trunk or torso.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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