Chinese word

肾

Pronunciation

Pinyinshèn

Meaning

  • nounkidney

Example

医生说他的肾有点问题，需要做检查。yī shēng shuō tā de shèn yóu diǎn wèn tí xū yào zuò jiǎn chá

The doctor says there is a slight problem with his kidney and that he needs a checkup.

Illustration for 肾 (kidney)

More examples

因为长期高血压，他的肾逐渐受损。yīn wèi cháng qī gāo xuè yā tā de shèn zhú jiàn shòu sǔn

Because of long-term high blood pressure, his kidney is gradually being damaged.

Core concept

An internal regulator that cleans the blood, produces urine, and keeps water, salt, and acid levels steady.

Common phrases

  • 慢性肾病màn xìng shèn bìng

    chronic kidney disease

  • 肾功能检查shèn gōng néng jiǎn chá

    kidney function test

  • 肾炎shèn yán

    nephritis

Similar words

肝gān: An organ that processes nutrients, removes harmful substances, and helps make bile.
心脏xīn zàng: A beating muscle that pumps blood throughout the body.
肺fèi: An organ that takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide during breathing.

Definition in Chinese

负责从血液中分离代谢废物并形成尿液，同时参与维持体内水盐和酸碱平衡的重要器官。fù zé cóng xuè yè zhōng fēn lí dài xiè fèi wù bìng xíng chéng niào yè tóng shí cān yù wéi chí tǐ nèi shuǐ yán hé suān jiǎn píng héng de zhòng yào qì guān

Word origin

The character 肾 (shèn, "kidney") is the simplified form of an older character whose flesh radical connects it with the body.

Usage tips

  • Recognizing this word in compounds for function, failure, stones, and tests helps learners understand hospital talk even when the full terms are new.

Related words

  • 肾病shèn bìngkidney diseasenoun
  • 肾炎shèn yánnephritisnoun
  • 肾小球shèn xiǎo qiúglomerulusnoun

Word lists with this word