About
The character 腹, denoting the abdomen, derives from a structural combination of the flesh radical 月, which indicates its relation to the body, and the phonetic element 复, guiding its pronunciation. Originally referring strictly to the physical belly, its meaning gradually expanded to encompass metaphorical senses, such as the interior or core of a geographical area or object, as seen in the term 腹地 for hinterland, and further to denote innermost feelings or a trusted person in compounds like 心腹. This semantic shift from a concrete bodily part to abstract connotations followed a natural linguistic pattern, and the character's form has remained consistent in its composition over centuries without undergoing graphical simplification.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我的腹部有点痛。
他摸了摸自己的腹部。
医生检查了他的腹部。
锻炼腹肌可以增强核心力量。
腹痛可能是由多种原因引起的。
在瑜伽中，腹式呼吸很重要。
由于长期久坐，他的腹部堆积了脂肪。
腹膜炎是一种严重的腹部感染疾病。