01
der Bauch
belly
The front part of the human or animal body between the chest and the pelvis, which contains the digestive organs.
example
Nach dem großen Essen hatte ich Bauchschmerzen.
After the big meal, I had a stomachache.
der Bauch
belly / stomach
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Movement vs. position
Pay attention to the case with prepositions. Movement is expressed with the accusative, while a position or state requires the dative.
EXAMPLE
Der Boxer schlägt seinem Gegner in den Bauch.
The boxer hits his opponent in the belly.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'aus dem Bauch heraus' (from the gut) is very common and means that you make a decision intuitively. The expression functions in the sentence like an adverbial phrase.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann es nicht erklären, ich habe einfach aus dem Bauch heraus gehandelt.
I can't explain it; I simply acted from the gut.
Typical collocations
In connection with the body part, 'Bauch' (belly/stomach) is often associated with pain or feelings. Typical phrases are 'Bauchschmerzen haben' (to have a stomachache), 'Schmetterlinge im Bauch haben' (to have butterflies in one's stomach), or 'sich den Bauch vollschlagen' (to stuff oneself).
EXAMPLE
Vor der Prüfung hatte ich immer ein flaues Gefühl im Bauch.
Before the exam, I always had a queasy feeling in my stomach.
Context clue
When 'Bauch' (belly) is used in connection with objects such as bottles, vases, or ships, it refers to the rounded, bulging shape of the object. This is a figurative transfer.
EXAMPLE
Der Wein lagerte im Bauch des alten Holzfasses.
The wine was stored in the belly of the old wooden barrel.
Compare with
Bauch vs Kopf
head
'der Kopf' and 'der Bauch' are body parts located in different places: the head is at the top and contains the brain, while the belly is at the front in the middle of the body. They also form a contrast in a figurative sense. 'Kopf' is often associated with thinking, planning, and reason. 'Bauch' in the expression 'aus dem Bauch heraus' (from the gut) stands for feeling or intuition. They can be confused especially in such figurative expressions. A simple guide is: the head thinks, the gut feels.
Bauch
Sie hat aus dem Bauch heraus zugesagt, obwohl sie noch nicht alle Informationen hatte.
She agreed based on gut feeling, even though she did not yet have all the information.
Kopf
Bei wichtigen Entscheidungen höre ich meistens auf meinen Kopf.
When making important decisions, I usually listen to my head.
In real life
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