肝硬変
kankōhen
The English word "cirrhosis" is translated into Japanese as 肝硬変 (kankōhen). Wiktionary also lists 硬変 (kōhen).
Meaning: chronic disease of the liver (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 肝硬変 | kankōhen |
| 硬変 | kōhen |
The term refers to the chronic disease of the liver.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 肝硬変 is composed of 肝 (liver), 硬 (hard) and 変 (change/alteration).
Which one should you use?
肝硬変 is the full medical term for cirrhosis, whereas 硬変 is a shorthand used in specific medical contexts to refer to the hardening process itself.
How do you pronounce it?
kankōhen
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, the liver 肝 is traditionally seen as the seat of courage. This is why the word for 'guts' or 'bravery' in expressions like 肝が据わる (to have nerves of steel) shares the same root as the medical term 肝硬変.
- The kanji 変 in 肝硬変 is the same character used in the word 変身 (transformation), which is the title of the famous 'Kamen Rider' series where heroes transform into armored warriors.
- In Japanese, the term 肝 can be used as a prefix for various 'vital' or 'central' concepts, such as 肝心 (essential). This reflects an ancient belief that the liver was the most important organ for overall vitality.
Examples in context
- 医師：患者さんの診断結果は肝硬変です。Doctor: The patient's diagnosis is cirrhosis.
- 彼は肝硬変と診断されました。Kare wa kankouhen to shindan saremashita.He was diagnosed with cirrhosis.
- 肝硬変は重い病気です。Kankouhen wa omoi byouki desu.Cirrhosis is a serious disease.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a relative's health at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yuiおじいさんの具合はどうですか？Ojiisan no guai wa dou desu ka?How is your grandfather doing?
- 蓮 Ren肝硬変が悪化しているようです。Kankouhen ga akka shite iru you desu.It seems his cirrhosis is getting worse.
- 結衣 Yuiそれは心配ですね。Sore wa shinpai desu ne.That is worrying.
- 蓮 Renはい、とても心配です。Hai, totemo shinpai desu.Yes, I am very worried.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cirrhosis” translations and entries 肝硬変, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
