Colloquial word for the side of the body or an object, often with a slightly rough or informal feel. Compare with the more neutral 横腹.
See also: 横腹
I fell and hit my side.
He laughed so much that his sides hurt.
Standard kanji spelling.
Kana spelling is common in casual writing.
Formed from 横 (side) + 腹 (belly) with the colloquial infix っ, giving a casual, emphatic feel.