器官

• Reading: きかん
• Romaji: kikan
• Kanji breakdown: 器 (ki) — vessel, instrument; 官 (kan) — official, organ
• Pronunciation: /ki.kaɴ/

Meaning

Organ of the body; a functional part of a living organism. Used in biology and medicine.

A noun used primarily in scientific and medical contexts to refer to organs such as the heart, lungs, or digestive organs. Distinct from 臓器 (zōki), which specifically refers to internal organs for transplant. 器官 is broader, covering any functional body part.

Examples

1. 人間の体にはたくさんの器官がある。 The human body has many organs.
2. 呼吸器官に問題が見つかった。 A problem was found in the respiratory organs.
3. 消化器官の働きについて授業で学んだ。 We learned about how the digestive organs work in class.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, academic, biology

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Chinese 器官. 器 means 'vessel/instrument' and 官 means 'official/organ,' together describing a functional unit within a system.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal