A1 Idiom Neutral 1 min read

お腹がいっぱい

onaka ga ippai

To be full (after eating)

Practice it

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase to tell people you have finished eating and are comfortably full.

  • Means: To have a full stomach after a meal.
  • Used in: Restaurants, dinner parties, or after a home-cooked meal.
  • Don't confuse: Do not use this to mean 'I am pregnant' or 'I am bloated'.
Hungry face + Delicious meal + Patting stomach = {お腹|おなか}がいっぱい

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means your stomach is full of food. You use it when you cannot eat any more. It is very useful at dinner.
When you have finished a meal and feel satisfied, you say this. It is a polite way to tell your host you enjoyed the food and are now full.
This is the standard idiomatic expression for satiety. It is used in daily life to indicate that one's appetite has been satisfied, often serving as a polite refusal for additional servings.
The phrase functions as a social lubricant in Japanese dining culture. By declaring one's satiety, the speaker validates the quality and quantity of the meal provided, effectively closing the dining segment of an interaction.
Linguistically, this phrase combines the noun 'onaka' with the quantifier 'ippai'. It is a fixed expression that transcends mere biological description, acting as a pragmatic marker for the cessation of consumption in social contexts.
This expression exemplifies the Japanese cultural preference for indirect communication regarding personal limits. By focusing on the state of the 'stomach' rather than the 'self', the speaker maintains social harmony while clearly communicating their physical capacity, reflecting deep-seated cultural norms regarding dining etiquette.

Meaning

To feel completely satisfied after consuming food.

🌍

Cultural Background

It is polite to say this after a meal to show appreciation. Sharing food is common, so this phrase is essential to stop the flow of dishes.

💡

Politeness

Always add 'desu' in public.

💡

Politeness

Always add 'desu' in public.

Test Yourself

Complete the sentence.

もう食べられません。{お腹|おなか}が＿＿＿。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: いっぱい

The phrase is 'onaka ga ippai'.

🎉 Score: /1

Visual Learning Aids

Practice Bank

2 exercises
Choose the correct answer Fill Blank

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
Complete the sentence. Fill Blank A1

もう食べられません。{お腹|おなか}が＿＿＿。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: いっぱい

The phrase is 'onaka ga ippai'.

🎉 Score: /2

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

Yes, but use 'desu'.

Related Phrases

🔗

腹八分目

similar

Eat until 80% full

Where to Use It

🍜

At a Restaurant

Waiter: デザートはいかがですか？

You: いいえ、{お腹|おなか}がいっぱいなので。

neutral
🍕

With Friends

Friend: もう一枚ピザ食べる？

You: いや、もう{お腹|おなか}がいっぱい！

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'full' (ippai) 'onaka' (stomach) like a balloon ready to pop.

Visual Association

Imagine yourself patting your stomach after a huge bowl of ramen.

Story

You go to a sushi bar. You eat 20 pieces. The chef asks if you want more. You pat your belly and say, '{お腹|おなか}がいっぱいです！'

In Other Languages

Similar to 'I'm stuffed' in English or 'Estoy lleno' in Spanish.

Word Web

食べる満腹美味しいごちそうさまお腹いっぱい

Challenge

Next time you eat, say the phrase out loud before you stand up.

Review in 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month.

Pronunciation

Stress Flat or head-stressed.

Standard Japanese pitch accent.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
{お腹|おなか}がいっぱいでございます。

{お腹|おなか}がいっぱいでございます。 (Dining)

Neutral
{お腹|おなか}がいっぱいです。

{お腹|おなか}がいっぱいです。 (Dining)

Informal
{お腹|おなか}がいっぱい！

{お腹|おなか}がいっぱい！ (Dining)

Slang
お腹パンパン！

お腹パンパン！ (Dining)

Comes from the combination of 'Onaka' (stomach) and 'Ippai' (full).

Edo Period:

Fun Fact

You can also use 'ippai' for drinks, but 'onaka ga ippai' is strictly for food.

Cultural Notes

It is polite to say this after a meal to show appreciation.

“ごちそうさまでした。{お腹|おなか}がいっぱいです。”

Sharing food is common, so this phrase is essential to stop the flow of dishes.

“もう十分です、{お腹|おなか}がいっぱいです。”

Conversation Starters

“

今日のランチは何を食べましたか？

Common Mistakes

✗

お腹が満腹です

✓

お腹がいっぱいです

wrong context
Using 'manpuku' (full stomach) as a noun with 'onaka' is redundant.

L1 Interference

0

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

Estoy lleno

Spanish uses 'estar' (temporary state) while Japanese uses 'desu'.

French moderate

Je suis plein

French speakers often prefer 'J'ai trop mangé' (I ate too much).

German Very Similar

Ich bin satt

Japanese focuses on the stomach, German on the state of hunger.

Japanese N/A

{お腹|おなか}がいっぱい

Focuses on the physical container (stomach).

Arabic Very Similar

أنا شبعان

Arabic is gendered (shab'an/shab'ana).

Spotted in the Real World

🌐

(1980-2020)

“お腹がいっぱいだ！”

Characters eating after a long journey.

Easily Confused

お腹がいっぱい vs お腹がすいた

Learners mix up 'full' and 'hungry'.

Sui-ta (empty) vs Ippai (full).

Frequently Asked Questions (1)

Yes, but use 'desu'.

usage contexts

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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