中なか身み

な

か

み

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

Refers to what is physically inside a container, package, bag, food, or other object. Often translated according to context as contents, interior, or filling.

箱はこの中なか身みを

確かく

認にん

し

て

ください

。

Please check the contents of the box.

このパンの中なか身みはカスタードクリームです。

The filling in this bread is custard cream.

2

noun

substance; real content

Used figuratively for the meaningful substance of a speech, plan, book, person, or activity, rather than its outside appearance or form.

見みた目めは立りっ派ぱだが、中なか身みがあまりない企き画かくだ。
It looks impressive, but the plan does not have much substance.
会かい議ぎでは契けい約やくの中なか身みを詳くわしく話はなし合あった。
At the meeting, we discussed the details of the contract.

3

noun

sword blade

Only when written 中身

Specialized sword-related use referring to the blade itself. This is not the ordinary modern word for a blade in general; 刃 or 刀身 is more usual outside this limited context.

刀とう剣けんの説せつ明めいで「中なか身み」は刀かたなの刃はそのものを指さすことがある。
In descriptions of swords, 中身 can refer to the blade itself.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉の中なか身みを確かく認にんするto check the contents of something
荷に物もつを開あける前まえに中なか身みを確かく認にんした。
I checked the contents before opening the package.
中なか身みがないto lack real substance (of a speech, plan, etc.)
彼かれのスピーチは立りっ派ぱに聞きこえたが、中なか身みがなかった。
His speech sounded impressive, but it had no real substance.
中なか身みを入いれ替かえるto swap out the contents of something
古ふるい財さい布ふから新あたらしい財さい布ふに中なか身みを入いれ替かえた。
I moved the contents from the old wallet to the new one.
中なか身みが濃こいto be rich in substance or content
このセミナーは短みたいが中なか身みが濃こい。
This seminar is short but packed with substance.
中なか身みを明あきらかにするto reveal the actual content or substance of something
会かい社しゃは新しん製せい品ひんの中なか身みを明あきらかにした。
The company revealed the actual content of the new product.

Kanji

中in, inside, middle
身somebody, person, one's station in life
味flavor, taste

Related words

内ない容ようN3sense 2
内容 is the standard word for the content of a speech, document, or plan, while 中身 can describe the same thing more casually or refer to a container's physical contents.
具ぐN2sense 1
具 refers specifically to the ingredients or filling inside food like soup or onigiri, while 中身 is the broader word usable for the contents of any container or food.
実みN3
中身 refers to the contents inside something in general, while 実 in its figurative sense emphasizes meaningful substance or real content.
コンテンツ
中身 refers to the physical or literal contents inside something (like a box), whereas コンテンツ covers abstract or digital content such as articles, videos, or games.

Opposites

見みた目めN2sense 2
見た目 is a thing's outward appearance, the opposite of 中身 which is its real, inner substance or quality.
外そと側がわN3sense 1
外側 is the outside surface or exterior of something, contrasting with 中身, which is what is inside it.

Don't confuse with

中なかN5sense 1
中 just means the inside or middle as a location, whereas 中身 refers to the actual contents or substance found inside something.

Word family

中なか身み汁じる
Okinawan pork offal soup

Built from

中なか+身み

Written forms

中なか身みUsage94%
Standard common spelling for physical contents, substance, and the limited sword-related sense.
中なか味みUsage6%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Attested ateji/alternate spelling, mainly for ordinary 'contents' or 'substance'; 中身 is the safer standard spelling.
ナカミUsage<1%

Etymology

A transparent compound of 中, 'inside,' and 身, 'body, substance, contents.' The alternate spelling 中味 uses 味 as an ateji-style character rather than as a separate meaning of 'taste.'

殻から

N2

殻 is the outer covering that is discarded, while 中身 is the contents or substance inside it.