みぞおち

みぞおち
noun
pit of the stomach; solar plexus
1. the pit of the stomach; solar plexus
the soft area in the upper abdomen, below the sternum
みぞおちを(なぐ)られた。
I was punched in the solar plexus.
みぞおちに(いた)みを(かん)じる。
I feel pain in my solar plexus.
みぞおちを()すと()調子(ちょうし)がわかる。
You can tell the condition of your stomach by pressing the solar plexus area.

BODY PART:
みぞおち refers to the soft, vulnerable area in the upper abdomen, just below where the ribs meet. It is a sensitive area because the solar plexus nerve cluster is located there.

WHY PAINFUL:
A blow to the みぞおち can cause severe pain, difficulty breathing, and even loss of consciousness because it affects the diaphragm and solar plexus nerves.

ORTHOGRAPHY:

  • Usually written in hiragana
  • Can be written as 鳩尾(みぞおち) (literally "pigeon tail") but hiragana is more common

MEDICAL NOTE:
Pain in the みぞおち area can indicate stomach problems, heartburn, or more serious conditions.

RELATED:

  • (はら)/お腹(おなか) - stomach/abdomen
  • () - stomach (organ)
  • (むね) - chest