Motto Shiritai Nihongo

Idioms using the word "腹 (stomach)"

Haraga 立つtatsu(One’s stomach stands)
Harawo 決めるkimeru(To decide one’s stomach)
Harawo 割るwaru (reak or split one’s stomach)
Haraga 黒いkuroi(One’s stomach is black)
自腹Jibarawo 切るkiru(to pa money out of your own pocket)

慣用句(idiom) are expressions that combine two or more words to create a different meaning.

The meaning is completely different from the original words, so it is useful to know idioms. 

Idioms often use words related to the body, such as “hand (te )” and “leg (ashi )” This month, let’s learn some useful idioms that use the word stomach(hara ).”

 

Haraga 立つtatsu - One’s stomach stands

The meaning of hara ga tatsu is “he or she is angry.”

  • Let’s Try It Out!
    ~ On a Train ~

    A: Bさんsanどうしたのdoushitano? (B-san, are you OK?) 何かnanika 怒ってるokotteru? (Are you angry about something?)

    B: Ima 降りた 人orita hito私のwatashi no 足をashi wo踏んだのにfundanoni 何もnanimo 言わないでiwanaide 降りたからoritakara腹がhara ga 立ってtatte…。(The person who just got off stepped on my foot, but didn’t say a word, so I’m angry.)

 

Harawo 決めるkimeru - To decide one’s stomach

The meaning of hara wo kimeru is “to make up your mind.”
In Japanese idioms, the “stomach” is often thought of as a place where the heart resides.

  • Let’s Try It Out!
    ~ B is considering whether or not to study abroad. ~

    A: Bさんsanこの前konomae 留学するかryūgaku suruka どうかdouka 悩んでたけどnayandetakedo決めたkimeta? (B-san, you were wondering whether to study abroad the other day... Have you decided?)

    B: うんunやっと yatto腹をhara wo 決めたkimeta行くよikuyo! (Yeah. I’ve finally made up my mind! I’m going!)

 

Harawo  割るwaru- Break or split one’s stomach

The meaning of hara wo waru is “to tell your true feelings and thoughts without hiding them.”

  • Let’s Try It Out!
    ~ A wants to share her concerns with B ~

    A: Bさんsanwatashi腹をhara wo 割ってwatte 相談できるsōdan dekiru 人がhito ga Bさんsanしかshika いないんですinaindesu

    B: 本当honto?(Really?) とってもtottemo 嬉しいureshii。(That makes me so happy.) いつでもitsudemo 相談してsōdan shite。(You can come talk to me anytime.)

 

Haraga 黒いkuroi腹黒いHara guroi) - One’s stomach is black

The meaning of hara ga kuroi is “a person who seems kind and gentle is actually thinking bad or inappropriate things inside their mind.” It can also be described as “hara guroi.”

  • Let’s Try It Out!
    ~ A and B are talking about C, who looks kind. ~

    A: Cさんってsantte やさしそうなyasashisouna 人ですよねhito desuyone。(C-san seems like a kind person, doesn't she?)

    B: そうですかsōdesuka?(You think so?) 私はwatashi wa Cさんがsan ga よくyoku いろんなironna 人のhito no 悪口をwaruguchi wo 言ってるのitteruno 聞いたことがkiitakoto ga ありますarimasu。(I’ve heard that C-san often talks badly about various people.) ちょっとchotto 腹黒いharaguroiかもしれないからkamoshirenaikara気をつけてki wo tsukete。(She might be a bit devious, so be careful.)

 

自腹jibarawo切るkiru - To pay money out of your own pocket

The meaning of Jibara wo kiru is “paying money out of your own pocket that you don't actually have to pay.” It sometimes described as “jibara (one’s own stomach)” in short.

  • Let’s Try It Out!
    ~ A got a new job ~

    A: 新しいatarashii 仕事shigotoパソコンpasokonga 必要なんだけどhitsuyō nandakedo自腹jibara かなぁkanā… ( I need a computer for my new job, but I wonder if I’ll have to buy it myself.)



    B: たぶんtabun会社でkaisha de 用意してくれるとyōishitekureruto 思うよomouyo。(I think your company will probably provide it.) 聞いてみたらkiitemitara?(Why don’t you ask them?)