肚子

The Chinese word 肚子 (dùzi) for "belly" or "stomach" has an interesting etymology. It is composed of two characters: 肚 (dù), which means "belly" or "abdomen", and 子 (zi), which means "child" or "offspring". The combination of these two characters suggests the idea of the belly as the place where a child grows and is nurtured. This etymology reflects the traditional Chinese view of the body as a microcosm of the universe, with the belly being seen as the center of life and vitality. The word 肚子 is commonly used in everyday speech and writing to refer to the belly or stomach, and it can also be used in a figurative sense to refer to the "inner self" or "heart".