1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “胃” (i) means “stomach” in English. It refers to the organ in the digestive system that processes food.
2. Formation and Radical
Formation of the Kanji: The kanji “胃” is a phonetic-ideographic character (形声文字). It combines the radical for “meat” (肉) on the left, indicating its relation to food, with the phonetic component “i” on the right.
Radical: The radical for “胃” is 肉 (niku), which relates to flesh or meat, emphasizing its connection to the digestive process.
3. Examples of Usage
Common Words and Phrases:
- 胃腸 (いちょう, ichou) – stomach and intestines
- 胃痛 (いつう, itsuu) – stomachache
Example Sentences in Daily Conversation:
- 「私は胃が痛いです。」(Watashi wa i ga itai desu.) – “I have a stomachache.”
- 「胃腸の調子が悪い。」(Ichou no choushi ga warui.) – “My digestive system is not well.”
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar Kanji:
- 腸 (ちょう, chou) – intestines; while “胃” refers specifically to the stomach, “腸” refers to the intestines, which are part of the digestive system.
Antonyms:
- 空腹 (くうふく, kuufuku) – hunger; while “胃” refers to the organ that processes food, “空腹” describes the state of being hungry, which is the opposite condition.
5. Cultural and Historical Background
Relation to Japanese Culture: In Japanese culture, the stomach is often associated with health and well-being. Traditional medicine emphasizes the importance of digestive health.
Proverbs and Idioms:
- 「腹八分目」(はらはちぶんめ, hara hachibunme) – “Eat until you are 80% full.” This proverb emphasizes moderation in eating, reflecting the importance of the stomach in health.