Proverb / Kotowaza
腹も身の内
The stomach is an integral part of your body, so overeating will damage your health.
The stomach is also part of the body
Quick Answer
The stomach is an integral part of your body, so overeating will damage your health.
- Literal Image
- The stomach is also part of the body
- Closest Equivalent
- Much meat, much disease.
- How to Use It
- Used to warn someone who is eating or drinking to excess, or as a reminder to practice moderation during meals.
Meaning
Since the stomach is part of the physical body, reckless overeating or overdrinking will lead to poor health. This proverb serves as a direct warning against gluttony, reminding us that we cannot indulge our appetite without affecting our entire physical well-being.
Literal Image
The stomach is also part of the body
Equivalent Proverbs
Much meat, much disease.
Cautions that excessive food leads to illness.
How to Use It
Used to warn someone who is eating or drinking to excess, or as a reminder to practice moderation during meals.
Tone
A practical and cautionary warning suitable for casual or domestic settings.
Examples
食べ放題だからといって限界まで詰め込むのはやめなさい。腹も身の内だよ。
Just because it's all-you-can-eat doesn't mean you should stuff yourself to the limit. Your stomach is part of your body, too.
腹も身の内と言うだろう。飲み会続きで胃が悲鳴を上げているんじゃないか。
They say the stomach is part of your body. Isn't your stomach screaming after all those back-to-back drinking parties?
美味しいものを目の前にするとつい食べ過ぎてしまうが、腹も身の内を忘れてはいけない。
When there's delicious food in front of me, I end up overeating, but I must not forget that my stomach is part of my body.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses basic kanji and straightforward grammar, though the use of 'mi' (body) and 'uchi' (part of) is idiomatic.
腹
はら / hara
stomach; belly
身
み / mi
body; self
内
うち / uchi
inside; within (here meaning 'part of')
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
Learners might interpret 'uchi' as 'inside the stomach,' but here it indicates the stomach is 'within' the category of the physical body.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.