腎臓

• Reading: じんぞう
• Romaji: jinzou
• Kanji breakdown: 腎 (jin) — kidney; 臓 (zou) — internal organ, viscera
• Pronunciation: /dʑiɴ.zoː/

Meaning

Kidney. The pair of organs that filter blood and produce urine.

A noun for the kidneys, essential organs responsible for filtering waste from the blood. Frequently discussed in contexts of dialysis (人工透析), kidney disease (腎臓病), organ transplants, and lifestyle-related conditions. Often mentioned alongside 肝臓 (liver) in health check-up results.

Examples

1. 腎臓の機能が低下すると、人工透析が必要になることがある。 When kidney function declines, dialysis may become necessary.
2. 塩分の取りすぎは腎臓に悪い影響を与える。 Eating too much salt has a negative impact on the kidneys.
3. 母は腎臓の検査のために病院に行った。 My mother went to the hospital for a kidney check-up.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, health, biology

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 腎 (jin, kidney) + 臓 (zou, internal organ). The character 腎 combines 月 (flesh radical) with 臣 and 又, while 臓 indicates a vital organ stored within the body.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal