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March 24, 2026
肚dǔ(du3)
The character 肚 (dǔ) primarily refers to the belly or abdomen. It can denote the physical belly area as well as figurative meanings, such as feelings or emotions related to one's stomach, like hunger or anxiety. It's commonly used in both culinary contexts and discussions about health.
Strokes7Radical⺼Frequency#5383DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of the belly is often tied to traditional medicine, where the state of one's belly can reflect overall health. Many dishes are considered 'good for the belly,' emphasizing the importance of food in daily life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big belly (肚) filled with delicious food. The character looks like a person holding their belly in delight, with the top part (月) representing the body and the bottom (肚) forming the belly's outline. The pronunciation 'dǔ' sounds like 'do', as in 'do you have a belly ache?'
Meanings of 肚
dǔ(du3)
primary
1tripe
2belly
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 肚
肚Simplified
7Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5383Frequency Rank
Podcast: 肚
Podcast: 肚
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AI Study Notes for 肚
Quick Contrast
肚子 (dùzi) is a more colloquial term for belly, while 腹部 (fùbù) refers specifically to the abdominal area in a medical context.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a big belly (肚) filled with delicious food. The character looks like a person holding their belly in delight, with the top part (月) representing the body and the bottom (肚) forming the belly's outline. The pronunciation 'dǔ' sounds like 'do', as in 'do you have a belly ache?'
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 肚 with other similar characters like 腹 (fù) which also means abdomen but is more formal. In informal contexts, 肚 can be used to discuss feelings related to hunger or discomfort, such as '肚子饿了' (dǔzi è le - I'm hungry). Pay attention to tone, as 'dǔ' has a different meaning from 'dù' (度, degree).
HSK Study Tips
Although 肚 is not found in HSK lists, it connects well with other terms related to body parts or health at HSK Level 3 and 4, such as 胃 (wèi - stomach) and 身体 (shēntǐ - body). Students should focus on using it in common phrases about health and feelings.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of the belly is often tied to traditional medicine, where the state of one's belly can reflect overall health. Many dishes are considered 'good for the belly,' emphasizing the importance of food in daily life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 肚 in formal contexts, where 腹 might be more appropriate. For instance, saying '我肚痛' (wǒ dǔ tòng - I have a belly ache) is informal, while '我腹痛' (wǒ fù tòng) is more suitable for a doctor's setting.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 肚
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Grammar Patterns of 肚
肚 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Tap your cheeks all over with the pads of your fingers.
3
他吃起东西来肚子像个无底洞。
tā chī qǐ dōng xī lái dù zǐ xiàng gè wú dǐ dòng。
He's a bottomless pit as far as food is concerned.
4
他会向他们冲过去，踹他们的小腿肚子。
tā huì xiàng tā mén chōng guò qù， ， chuài tā mén de xiǎo tuǐ dù。
He would barge into them and kick them in the shins.
5
制服上装中间的纽扣在他的肚子上绷得紧紧的。
zhì fú shàng zhuāng zhōng jiān de niǔ kòu zài tā de dù zǐ shàng bēng dé jǐn jǐn de。
The middle button of his uniform jacket was strained over his belly.
6
她身穿一件格子衬衫，衣角在肚脐上方打了个结。
tā shēn chuān yī jiàn gé zǐ chèn shān， ， yī jiǎo zài dù qí shàng fāng dǎ le gè。
She wore a checked shirt tied in a knot above the navel.
7
喝河水很容易闹肚子。
hē hé shuǐ hěn róng yì nào dù zǐ。
It's easy to get a tummy upset from river water.
8
他又矮又胖，挺着个大啤酒肚。
tā yòu ǎi yòu pàng， ， tǐng zháo gè dà pí jiǔ。
He was short and fat, with a large beer belly.
9
你会吃得肚子鼓鼓的，像个大酒桶。
nǐ huì chī dé dù zǐ gǔ gǔ de， ， xiàng gè dà jiǔ。
You'll eat so much your belly'll be like a barrel.
10
只有化作他肚子里的蛔虫才有可能猜出他在想什么。
zhī yǒu huà zuò tā dù zǐ lǐ de huí chóng cái yǒu kě néng cāi chū tā zài xiǎng shí mó。
Only by being him can you hope to outguess him.
Cultural Notes for 肚
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of the belly is often tied to traditional medicine, where the state of one's belly can reflect overall health. Many dishes are considered 'good for the belly,' emphasizing the importance of food in daily life.
Word Family of 肚
Words Containing This Character20
肚子dùzibelly
肚dǔbelly
肚皮belly
拉肚子(coll.) to have diarrhea
肚脐navel肚臍
大肚子pregnant
大肚Tatu township in Taichung county 臺中縣|台中县[Táizhōngxiàn], Taiwan
闹肚子(coll.) to have diarrhea鬧肚子
肚脐眼navel肚臍眼
牵肠挂肚deeply worried (idiom); to feel anxious牽腸掛肚
腿肚子calf (back of the leg below the knee)
啤酒肚beer belly
小肚鸡肠petty小肚雞腸
鱼肚fish maw魚肚
鱼肚白white (paint from dried fish guts)魚肚白
将军肚potbelly將軍肚
搜肠刮肚to search one's guts and belly (idiom); to racks one's brains for a solution搜腸刮肚
人心隔肚皮there is no knowing what is in a man's heart (idiom)
兜肚undergarment covering the chest and abdomen
泻肚to have diarrhea瀉肚
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 肚子 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 肚
Yes, there are idioms that include 肚, such as '肚子里有货' (dùzi lǐ yǒu huò), which means someone is knowledgeable or has a lot of ideas. Such expressions often use 肚 to convey deeper meanings related to one's mind or feelings, beyond just the physical belly.
肚 (dǔ) typically refers to the belly or stomach area, often used in a casual context. In contrast, 腹 (fù) is a more formal term that can refer to the abdomen or belly, often used in medical or literary contexts. Understanding the nuances between these terms can help in choosing the right word based on the situation.
肚 (dǔ) means 'belly' or 'abdomen' in Chinese. It can refer to the stomach area in a general sense, and is also used in specific terms related to the belly. The character is commonly found in phrases related to digestion or physical sensations in the abdomen.
You can use 肚 in sentences to describe physical feelings or conditions related to the abdomen. For example, '我肚子饿了' (Wǒ dùzi è le) means 'I am hungry,' where 肚子 (dùzi) refers to the belly. It's often used in everyday conversation when discussing one's health or appetite.
肚 is more commonly used in everyday conversation and refers to the belly, while 腹 is more formal and can refer to the abdomen or belly in a medical context.
Yes, 肚 can be used to express feelings, such as '肚子里有事' (dǔzi lǐ yǒu shì - I have something on my mind), linking physical sensations to emotional states.
It is pronounced as 'dǔ', with a falling tone, so make sure to emphasize the downward pitch.
