へそ
also: ほぞ
Meanings
navel; belly button
The ordinary body-part meaning. In everyday Japanese it is normally written へそ rather than in kanji.
I gently wiped the baby's belly button.
The shirt is short, so his navel is showing.
central bump or hollow; navel-like depression
Only with reading へそ / ヘソ
Used by analogy for a small protrusion or depression in the middle of an object. Restricted this sense to the readings へそ and ヘソ.
A little dirt was left in the apple's navel-like hollow.
Figurative use for the center or most important part of something. Common in set-like expressions such as 日本のへそ and in somewhat informal descriptions of the core of an idea or project.
That town is called the center of Japan.
The key point of this project is getting local people involved.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉のへそthe center/heart of a place
Okayama Prefecture is sometimes called the navel (center) of Japan.
- へそを曲げるto get sulky or obstinate
He gets sulky as soon as you point out his mistakes.
- へそで茶を沸かすto find something ridiculously funny or absurd
If you heard an excuse like that, you'd die laughing at how ridiculous it is.
- へそが出るfor one's navel to show (e.g. because of short clothing)
This shirt is so short that my navel shows.