Japanese symbol for “belly”
腹
はら
Romaji: hara
abdomen; belly; stomach
In Japanese, belly is 腹, read はら (hara).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n abdomen; belly; stomach
- n womb
- n one's mind; one's real intentions; one's true motive
- n courage; nerve; willpower
- n generosity; magnanimity
- n feelings; emotions
Written forms: 腹、肚. Readings: はら.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “belly”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| お腹 | おなか onaka | belly; abdomen; stomach |
| 腹部 | ふくぶ fukubu | abdomen; abdominal region; belly |
| ベリー | ベリー berii | belly |
| 小腹 | こばら kobara | belly; abdomen |
| 腹中 | ふくちゅう fukuchuu | belly; stomach; inside of the abdomen |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 空腹 | くうふく kuufuku | empty stomach; hunger |
| 満腹 | まんぷく manpuku | full stomach; filling one's stomach; eating one's fill |
| 切腹 | せっぷく seppuku | seppuku; harakiri; ritual suicide by disembowelment |
| 腹部 | ふくぶ fukubu | abdomen; abdominal region; belly |
| 裏腹 | うらはら urahara | opposite; reverse; contrary |
| お腹 | おなか onaka | belly; abdomen; stomach |
See also: Chinese symbol for “belly”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.