心臓

• Reading: しんぞう
• Romaji: shinzou
• Kanji breakdown: 心 (shin) — heart, mind; 臓 (zou) — organ, viscera
• Pronunciation: /ɕiɴ.zoː/

Meaning

Heart. The organ that pumps blood through the body.

Refers specifically to the physical organ, unlike 心 (こころ) which means heart in an emotional sense. Common in medical contexts and expressions. The phrase 心臓が強い (strong-hearted) means someone is bold or unflappable, while 心臓に悪い means something is startling or stressful.

Examples

1. 運動すると心臓がドキドキする。 When I exercise, my heart starts pounding.
2. 急に大きい音がして心臓に悪かった。 There was a sudden loud noise and it nearly gave me a heart attack.
3. 心臓は一日に十万回も動いているそうです。 Apparently the heart beats about 100,000 times a day.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, daily life, biology

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 心 (heart, mind) and 臓 (organ, viscera). Together they specify the heart as a physical organ within the body.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal