肚
belly, stomach
Strokes7
Readings
On'yomi
- ト
Kun'yomi
- はら
Meaning
肚 centers on the abdomen as a physical container: the belly or stomach, especially in a bodily or anatomical sense.
Most common words using 肚
- 肚裏とり
in the heart
Study
Etymology
肚 combines the flesh radical ⺼ (body part) with 土, which likely provides the sound ト. The character originally referred to the belly or stomach.
Meaning mnemonic
The flesh radical ⺼ shows this is a body part, and 土 looks like a cross-shaped container. Picture a belly as a container of earth, holding food like soil holds seeds.
Reading mnemonic
For ト, imagine a toe poking a round belly: toe -> ト, and the belly jiggles.