中身
Meanings
Refers to what is physically inside a container, package, bag, food, or other object. Often translated according to context as contents, interior, or filling.
Please check the contents of the box.
The filling in this bread is custard cream.
substance; real content
Used figuratively for the meaningful substance of a speech, plan, book, person, or activity, rather than its outside appearance or form.
It looks impressive, but the plan does not have much substance.
At the meeting, we discussed the details of the contract.
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.
In descriptions of swords, 中身 can refer to the blade itself.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉の中身を確認するto check the contents of something
I checked the contents before opening the package.
- 中身がないto lack real substance (of a speech, plan, etc.)
His speech sounded impressive, but it had no real substance.
- 中身を入れ替えるto swap out the contents of something
I moved the contents from the old wallet to the new one.
- 中身が濃いto be rich in substance or content
This seminar is short but packed with substance.
- 中身を明らかにするto reveal the actual content or substance of something
The company revealed the actual content of the new product.