1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “腹” (hara) primarily means “belly” or “stomach.” It can also refer to the inner self or emotions, often associated with one’s feelings or instincts.
2. Formation and Radical
The kanji “腹” is a compound character that combines the radical for “meat” (肉) and the phonetic component “腹” itself. This character is categorized as a 形声文字 (phono-semantic compound), where the left part indicates meaning and the right part indicates pronunciation.
The radical for “腹” is 肉 (niku), which relates to flesh or meat, emphasizing the bodily aspect of the term.
3. Examples of Usage
Common words and phrases that include “腹” are:
- 腹痛 (ふくつう, fukutsuu) – stomachache
- 腹ごしらえ (はらごしらえ, haragoshirae) – a meal or filling one’s stomach
Example sentences in daily conversation:
- 「腹がすいた。」(はらがすいた, “Hara ga suita.”) – “I’m hungry.”
- 「腹痛がひどい。」(ふくつうがひどい, “Fukutsuu ga hidoi.”) – “I have a severe stomachache.”
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar kanji with related meanings include:
- 胃 (い, i) – “stomach” (referring specifically to the organ)
- 心 (こころ, kokoro) – “heart” (often used to denote emotions)
Antonyms include:
- 頭 (あたま, atama) – “head” (the opposite of the belly in terms of body parts)
5. Cultural and Historical Background
The concept of “腹” is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, often symbolizing one’s true feelings or intentions. The phrase “腹の内” (はらのうち, hara no uchi) refers to one’s inner thoughts or feelings.
Proverbs and idiomatic expressions include:
- 腹八分目 (はらはちぶんめ, hara hachibunme) – “Eat until you are 80% full,” which emphasizes moderation in eating.
- 腹を割る (はらをわる, hara o waru) – “to open one’s heart,” meaning to speak frankly or honestly.