腹ふく蔵ぞう

ふ

く

ぞ

う

Meanings

concealing one's thoughts; reserve; holding back

Almost always used in negative constructions like 腹蔵なく (without reserve, frankly) or 腹蔵のない (open, unreserved). The word itself is somewhat formal and not used in casual speech.

Expressions

腹ふく蔵ぞうなくwithout reserve; frankly; openly

Kanji

腹abdomen, belly, stomach
蔵storehouse, hide, own
覆capsize, cover, shade

Related words

率そっ直ちょく
率直 means 'frank' or 'straightforward' and is a common adjective. 腹蔵なく is a more formal, set phrase meaning 'without reserve'.
遠えん慮りょ
遠慮 means 'restraint' or 'hesitation' out of politeness. 腹蔵なく implies speaking without hiding anything, while 遠慮なく means 'without reserve' in the sense of not holding back out of politeness.

Written forms

腹ふく蔵ぞうUsage100%
Standard kanji form. 腹 (belly) + 蔵 (store) suggests storing thoughts inside.
覆ふく蔵ぞう
Variant kanji form using 覆 (cover/conceal). Less common than 腹蔵.

Etymology

Compound of 腹 (belly, mind) and 蔵 (store, hide). The idea of storing thoughts in one's belly is a traditional metaphor for concealing one's true feelings. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.