Meaning
The kanji 胃 (i) means "stomach" or "gastric." It refers specifically to the internal organ responsible for digestion, differentiating it from the broader "belly" or "abdomen," which might be represented by other kanji like 腹 (hara). This kanji is important for discussing health, food, and human anatomy in Japanese, and mastering it is key for JLPT N2 vocabulary.
The visual structure of 胃 gives us clues about its meaning. It is a phono-semantic compound. This means it combines a semantic component, which indicates meaning, and a phonetic component, which suggests pronunciation. The left radical, 月 (にくづき - niku-dzuki), is a variant of 肉 (niku), meaning "flesh" or "meat." This radical is commonly found in kanji related to body parts and organs, such as 腸 (chō - intestines), 肝 (kan - liver), and 肺 (hai - lung). Its presence immediately signals that 胃 is an anatomical term. The right component, 畏 (i - fear, awe), serves primarily as the phonetic element, giving the kanji its "i" sound. While primarily phonetic, some scholars suggest a subtle connection to the "awe" or "vulnerability" of the stomach. It's an organ critical for survival, yet susceptible to various ailments. The kanji 胃 is composed of 9 strokes.
Although not officially assigned a specific Japanese school grade level (like grades 1-6), 胃 is a common-use kanji. You'll frequently encounter it in daily life, especially in medical contexts and discussions about health. Students typically learn it when preparing for the JLPT N2 exam, as it's important for understanding more advanced Japanese texts and conversations.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
On'yomi are readings derived from Chinese pronunciation. They are typically used when kanji appear in compound words, especially those with abstract or formal meanings, or when referring to scientific and medical terms. 胃 has one primary On'yomi reading.
イ (i): This is the sole and most common On'yomi reading for 胃, and it's used in nearly all compound words. When you see 胃 in compounds, you will almost always pronounce it as "i," especially in medical and anatomical terminology.
胃炎 (ien) — gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
胃袋 (ibukuro) — stomach (literally "stomach bag," a common colloquial term)
胃腸 (ichō) — stomach and intestines (a common pairing of digestive organs)
胃酸 (isan) — stomach acid
胃癌 (igan) — stomach cancer
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Kun'yomi are native Japanese readings associated with a kanji's meaning, often used when the kanji appears alone or with okurigana (suffixing hiragana). Unlike many kanji, 胃 does not have a commonly recognized Kun'yomi when referring to the organ itself. While it might appear in compounds where other kanji contribute Kun'yomi (like in 胃袋 where 袋 is read as ふくろ), the kanji 胃 itself is almost exclusively read with its On'yomi, イ (i).
This is characteristic of many specialized kanji, particularly those introduced to represent specific scientific or medical concepts. In everyday conversation, if one were to refer to the stomach in a less formal way without using a compound, they might opt for phrases like お腹 (o-naka - belly) or more specific medical terms using the On'yomi of 胃.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 胃 is frequently used in a variety of compounds, particularly in medical contexts and discussions about health and digestion. Understanding these compounds is important for JLPT N2 level learners.
- 胃炎 (ien) — Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
- 胃袋 (ibukuro) — Stomach (lit. "stomach bag"), a common, slightly informal term for the stomach.
- 胃腸 (ichō) — Stomach and intestines; gastrointestinal tract.
- 胃潰瘍 (ikaiyō) — Gastric ulcer.
- 胃癌 (igan) — Stomach cancer.
- 胃薬 (igusuri) — Stomach medicine; antacid.
- 胃酸 (isan) — Stomach acid; gastric acid.
- 胃液 (ieki) — Gastric juice.
- 胃もたれ (imotare) — Indigestion; upset stomach; feeling of fullness.
- 胃カメラ (i kamera) — Gastric camera; endoscope (for stomach examination).
- 胃の腑 (inofu) — Stomach (an older or more literary expression).
- 胃壁 (iheki) — Stomach wall.
- 胃痛 (itsū) — Stomachache; gastric pain.
- 胃がん検診 (igan kenshin) — Stomach cancer screening.
Example Sentences
最近、胃の調子があまり良くないんです。
Saikin, i no chōshi ga amari yokunain desu.
Recently, my stomach hasn't been feeling very well.
食べ過ぎると、胃が痛くなることがあります。
Tabesugiru to, i ga itaku naru koto ga arimasu.
If I eat too much, my stomach sometimes starts to hurt.
胃薬を飲んだら、少し楽になりました。
I-gusuri o nondara, sukoshi raku ni narimashita.
After taking stomach medicine, I felt a little better.
胃腸の健康は全体的な健康に重要です。
Ichō no kenkō wa zentai-teki na kenkō ni jūyō desu.
Gastrointestinal health is important for overall health.
彼女は緊張すると、すぐに胃が痛くなるタイプだ。
Kanojo wa kinchō suru to, sugu ni i ga itaku naru taipu da.
She's the type whose stomach hurts immediately when she gets nervous.
辛いものを食べ過ぎると、胃に悪いと言われています。
Karai mono o tabesugiru to, i ni warui to iwarete imasu.
It's said that eating too many spicy foods is bad for your stomach.
医者に胃の検査をしてもらう必要があります。
Isha ni i no kensa o shite morau hitsuyō ga arimasu.
I need to have my stomach checked by a doctor.
朝食を抜くと、空の胃に悪影響を及ぼすことがあります。
Chōshoku o nuku to, kara no i ni akueikyō o oyobosu koto ga arimasu.
Skipping breakfast can have a negative impact on an empty stomach.
胃潰瘍は早期発見と治療が重要です。
I-kaiyō wa sōki hakken to chiryō ga jūyō desu.
Early detection and treatment are important for stomach ulcers.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 胃 (i), meaning "stomach," let's break it down into its two components. On the left, we have 月 (niku-dzuki), which is the "flesh" radical, always indicating a body part or organ. Think of it as a slice of meat or the crescent moon symbolizing an internal body part. On the right, we have 畏 (i), which means "fear" or "awe." You can create a story: "This flesh (月) organ, the stomach, can inspire fear (畏) when it's upset, or awe when it digests a delicious meal perfectly!" Imagine a stomach, a fleshy organ, giving you a dreadful feeling of "fear" when you have a terrible stomachache, helping you connect the "i" sound to the meaning of "stomach."