How to Say ‘Around my belly button.’ in Japanese
おへそのあたりです。
o he sono atari desu
[oh heh soh-noh ah-tah-ree dess]
💬 Usage Tip: [あたりです] is a handy way to give an approximate location: [おへそのあたりです], [みぞおちのあたりです]. It means "around here," not an exact point.
🇯🇵 In Japan: In a pharmacy or clinic, it's very normal to answer this while lightly touching or pointing to the area. A gesture plus this phrase is often clearer than words alone.
Phrase Breakdown
おへそ
o he sono
navel; belly button
A noun for the center of the abdomen where the belly button is.
おへそが痛いです。
My belly button area hurts.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
polite prefix (honorific)
「お」 adds politeness to 「へそ」, which is common when explaining symptoms politely.
痛いのはおへそのあたりです。
The painful area is around my belly button.
へ
he
[heh]
(part of word) he (in おへそ)
This 「へ」 is the second mora in 「おへそ」. On its own it usually means “to/toward,” but here it’s just part of the word.
おへそのあたりです。
It’s around my belly button.
その
sono
[soh-noh]
that; the (as in “that …”) / (part of phrase)
In 「おへその」, this 「その」 appears because the word is segmented; functionally the phrase means “of the belly button.”
おへそのあたりです。
It’s around my belly button.
あたり
atari
[ah-tah-ree]
area; around
Used to indicate an approximate location of pain: 「〜のあたり」 = “around ~.”
おへそのあたりです。
It’s around my belly button.
です
desu
[dess]
is; it is (polite)
「です」 is a polite sentence ending. Helpful at pharmacies/clinics to speak politely and clearly.
おへそのあたりです。
It’s around my belly button.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”
Mia S., 25, English Teacher
“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”
Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager