Translation guide
The English word "gut" has several distinct meanings: the digestive organ, the belly area, a deep intuitive feeling, the core or essential part of something, and the verb meaning to remove the insides or destroy the interior. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each.
Referring to the internal organ, especially the intestines.
The standard anatomical term for intestines. Used in medical and everyday contexts.
My gut is not feeling well.
Refers to guts or entrails, often in a more visceral or dramatic sense. Can be used for human or animal innards.
魚のはらわたを取る。
Remove the guts of the fish.
General term for internal organs, including the gut. More formal or medical.
内臓を検査する。
Examine the internal organs.
Referring to the external abdominal area, often in casual or colloquial contexts.
Polite and common word for belly or stomach. Used in everyday conversation.
お腹が出てきた。
I'm getting a gut.
More casual or masculine word for belly. Often used in set phrases.
腹が立つ。
It gets on my nerves. (lit. my gut stands up)
Specifically refers to a potbelly or beer gut. Colloquial and slightly humorous.
A deep, instinctive feeling or reaction, often without logical reasoning.
The most direct equivalent for 'gut feeling' or intuition. Commonly used.
直感で決めた。
I decided based on my gut feeling.
A premonition or gut feeling that something is going to happen, often negative. Literally 'bug's notice'.
From the bottom of one's gut; used to express a deep, sincere feeling or conviction.
腹の底からそう思う。
I feel it in my gut.
The most important or central part of something, often used in phrases like 'the guts of the machine'.
The verb meaning to remove the internal organs of an animal, or to destroy the inside of something.
To gut (a fish, animal). Literally 'pull out the guts'.
魚のはらわたを抜いてください。
Please gut the fish.
To remove internal organs; more formal or medical phrasing.
解剖して内臓を取り出す。
Dissect and gut the specimen.
To destroy the interior, as in gutting a building by fire or renovation.
火事で建物の内部が破壊された。
The fire gutted the building.
直感 is the general term for intuition or gut feeling. 虫の知らせ implies a premonition, often negative, and is more colloquial. 第六感 is like a sixth sense, sometimes with a supernatural nuance. Use 直感 for most situations.
直感を信じる。
Trust your gut.
虫の知らせで嫌な予感がした。
I had a gut feeling something bad would happen.
Do not translate 'gut feeling' literally as 腹の感じ or 腸の感じ. These sound unnatural. Use 直感 or 虫の知らせ instead.
彼が嘘をついていると直感でわかる。
I have a gut feeling that he's lying.
その建物は火事で内部が完全に破壊された。
The building was completely gutted by the fire.
彼はすっかり太鼓腹だ。
He's got a real beer gut.
I called because I had a gut feeling.
Sixth sense; similar to gut instinct. Slightly more mystical nuance.
第六感が働いた。
My gut instinct kicked in.
Look at the guts of the computer.
Internal structure; technical term for the inner workings.
エンジンの内部構造を理解する。
Understand the guts of the engine.