肝臓

• Reading: かんぞう
• Romaji: kanzou
• Kanji breakdown: 肝 (kan) — liver; 臓 (zou) — internal organ, viscera
• Pronunciation: /kaɴ.zoː/

Meaning

Liver. The large organ in the abdomen that filters blood and produces bile.

A noun for the liver, one of the body's most vital organs. Commonly discussed in health contexts related to alcohol consumption (肝臓に悪い, bad for the liver), hepatitis, and medical check-ups. The related adjective 肝心 (kanjin, essential) shares the 肝 kanji, reflecting the cultural association of the liver with vitality.

Examples

1. お酒の飲みすぎは肝臓に負担をかける。 Drinking too much alcohol puts a strain on the liver.
2. 健康診断で肝臓の数値が少し高いと言われた。 At my physical exam, I was told my liver values were a little high.
3. 肝臓は体の中で最も大きい臓器の一つだ。 The liver is one of the largest organs in the body.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, health, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 肝 (kan, liver) + 臓 (zou, internal organ). The character 肝 combines 月 (flesh/body radical) with 干 (phonetic), while 臓 indicates an internal organ stored inside the body.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal