Chinese word

肝

Pronunciation

Pinyingān

Meaning

  • nounliver

Example

肝的功能很重要。gān de gōng néng hěn zhòng yào

The liver's function is very important.

Illustration for 肝 (liver)

More examples

长期饮酒会损伤肝脏。cháng qī yín jiǔ huì sǔn shāng gān zàng

Long-term drinking can damage the liver.

Core concept

The body's chemical processing center that handles nutrients, removes harmful substances, and makes and stores bile.

Common phrases

  • 肝脏gān zàng

    liver

  • 肝功能gān gōng néng

    liver function

  • 肝炎gān yán

    hepatitis

Similar words

肝脏gān zàng: The liver considered as a body organ, especially in everyday references to its health or condition.
肝功能gān gōng néng: The liver's functions, including metabolism and the removal of harmful substances.
肝病gān bìng: Any illness involving the liver.

Definition in Chinese

人体的主要代谢器官，具有营养代谢、解毒以及合成和储存胆汁等多种功能。rén tǐ de zhǔ yào dài xiè qì guān jù yǒu yíng yǎng dài xiè jiě dú yǐ jí hé chéng hé chǔ cún dǎn zhī děng duō zhǒng gōng néng

Word origin

肝 (gān, "liver") is formed from 月 (yuè, "flesh") + 干 (gān, "dry"), with 月 marking a body part and 干 supplying the sound.

Usage tips

  • Food labels and menus can use 肝 (gān, "liver") for an animal ingredient, while health discussions use it for the human organ; recognizing the setting prevents confusion.

Related words

  • 肝细胞gān xì bāoliver cellnoun
  • 肝病gān bìngliver diseasenoun
  • 肝移植gān yí zhíliver transplantnoun

Word lists with this word