also: むな
noun
The front of the upper body. This is the basic physical sense; むな is mainly a compound form.
胸に手を当てて深呼吸した。
I put my hand on my chest and took a deep breath.
ボールが胸に当たった。
The ball hit me in the chest.
noun
Refers specifically to the breasts or bust, often in contexts of body shape, clothing fit, or size.
このワンピースは胸のあたりが少しきつい。
This dress is a little tight around the bust.
noun
heart; heartbeat felt in the chest
Used for the heart as felt inside the chest, especially in expressions about pounding or fluttering. It is not a precise medical term for the organ.
走ったあと、しばらく胸がどきどきした。
After running, my heart kept pounding for a while.
noun
lungs; chest illness
Rare or old-fashioned use referring to the lungs or a lung/chest disease, especially in fixed expressions such as 胸を患う.
古い文章では、「胸を患う」が肺の病気を患う意味で使われることがある。
In older writing, 胸を患う can mean to suffer from a lung disease.
noun
stomach; upper stomach area
Used in some symptom expressions for nausea, heartburn, or discomfort felt high in the stomach or chest area.
食べ過ぎて胸がむかむかする。
I ate too much, and my stomach feels queasy.
脂っこい物を食べると胸が焼ける。
When I eat greasy food, I get heartburn.
noun
Figurative sense: the chest as the place where emotions, thoughts, hopes, worries, or memories are held.
彼女の優しい言葉が胸にしみた。
Her kind words touched me deeply.
大きな夢を胸に抱いて上京した。
I went to Tokyo carrying a big dream in my heart.