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How to Say ‘My stomach hurts.’ in Japanese

おなかが痛いです。

onaka ga itai desu

[oh-NAH-kah ga ee-TAH-ee dess]

💬 Usage Tip: Swap in any body part before が痛いです to say where it hurts: 頭が痛いです (atama ga itai desu) "I have a headache", のどが痛いです (nodo ga itai desu) "I have a sore throat". Japanese doesn't need "my". It's clear you mean your own stomach.

Phrase Breakdown

おなかが

onaka ga

my stomach (subject)

おなか (onaka) means 'stomach' or 'belly'. が marks it as the subject. The 'ga' can sound soft, close to 'nga'.

Example

おなかがすきました。

I'm hungry.

Words in this phrase

おなか

onaka

[oh-NAH-kah]

stomach; belly

A common, gentle word for the stomach or belly area.

Example

おなかがすきました。

I'm hungry.

が

ga

[ga]

subject marker

A particle marking the subject of the sentence.

Example

興味がある分野を教えてください。

Please tell me the field you are interested in.

痛いです。

itai desu

hurts / is painful

痛い (itai) means 'painful'. です makes it polite. Say all three vowels clearly: i-ta-i. The 'u' in 'desu' is almost silent.

Example

頭が痛いです。

I have a headache.

Words in this phrase

痛い

itai

[ee-TAH-ee]

painful; hurts

An i-adjective used to say something hurts.

Example

頭が痛いです。

I have a headache.

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

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