腹・肚|はらhara[2]odaka (tail-high)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Which spelling to use
腹腹 is the more common written form and the default choice for beginners. It is written entirely in kanji.
肚肚 is a rarely used written variant of 腹, so learners will seldom encounter it and generally should choose 腹 instead.
Definitions
  1. nounabdomen; belly; stomach
    カンガルーの雌めすは子供こどもを腹はらの袋ふくろに入いれて動うごく。↗
    A female kangaroo carries its young in the pouch.
  2. nounwomb
  3. nounone's mind; one's real intentions; one's true motive
    あの人ひとは口くちと腹はらが反対はんたいだ。↗
    He says one thing and means another.
  4. nouncourage; nerve; willpower
  5. noungenerosity; magnanimity
  6. nounfeelings; emotions
  7. nounwide middle part; bulging part
  8. nouninside; interior; inner part
  9. noun, physicsanti-node
  10. suffix, countercounter for hard roe
  11. suffix, countercounter for containers with bulging middles (pots, vases, etc.)
Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonymお腹おなかNeutralPolite, affectionate, and the everyday default, as in 「お腹が空いた」. 「腹」 is blunter, used more by men, and can also mean one's mind or true intentions.
  • Synonym胃いNeutralThe stomach organ specifically. 「腹」 covers the whole belly area and, figuratively, one's mind or real intentions.
  • Synonym腹部ふくぶWrittenWritten/formal prose and medical term for the abdominal region; also the middle underside of a plane. In everyday speech say 「お腹」.
  • Synonym胃袋いぶくろNeutralColloquial word for the stomach, also used figuratively for appetite or how much one can eat. 「腹」 means the whole belly.
  • SynonymぽんぽんCasualAlso an onomatopoeic word for repeated banging sounds or blunt, snappish talk; for the tummy it is baby talk.
  • SynonymストマックNeutralLoanword for the stomach, rarely used. Say 「胃」 in everyday speech.
  • Antonym背せNeutralOpposite of 「腹」 on the body's front–back axis: the back. Also means height or stature.

For the belly in daily conversation, 「お腹」 is the polite default; 「腹」 is blunter, more common among men, and also means one's mind or true intentions, as in 「腹を割る」. For the stomach organ use 「胃」; 「腹部」 is medical/written; 「ぽんぽん」 is baby talk.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. (はら) 動物どうぶつの体からだで、胴どうの下もと半部はんべ。哺乳類ほにゅうるいでは胸腔きょうこうと骨盤こつばんの間あいだにあって、胃いや腸ちょうなどの内臓ないぞうを収おさめるところ。背せの反対はんたい側がわとなる体からだの表面ひょうめんをもいう。おなか。
  2. (はら) 消化器しょうかき、ことに胃腸いちょう。
  3. (はら) 母ははの胎内たいない。また、その母ははの胎内たいないから生うまれたこと。
  4. (はら) 表ひょうにあらわさず、心こころに考かんがえていること。意中いちゅう。心底しんそこ。心中しんじゅう。
  5. (はら) 気持きもち。感情かんじょう。意趣いしゅ。
  6. (はら) 気力きりょく。胆力たんりょく。度胸どきょう。また、度量どりょう。
  7. (はら) 物ものの中央部ちゅうおうぶのふくらんだり広ひろくなったりしたところ。
  8. (はら) 物ものの裏面りめんまたは内側うちがわにあたる部分ぶぶん。
  9. (はら) 定常波ていじょうはで、振幅しんぷくの最大さいだいな部分ぶぶん。
  10. (はら) 魚さかなの腹子はらこを数かぞえるのに用もちいる。
  11. (はら) 壺つぼ・瓶びんなど胴部どうぶのふくらんだ容器ようきを数かぞえるのに用もちいる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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