肝
gān/kän⁵⁵/
The English word 'liver' is translated into Chinese as 肝 (gān) or 肝臟 / 肝脏.
Meaning: organ of the body (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 肝 | gān | /kän⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /kan⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Chengdu, Sinological IPA) |
|
| 肝 | koaⁿ | /kuã⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Xiamen) /kan⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Xiamen) |
Hokkien |
| 肝臟 / 肝脏 | koaⁿ-chōng | Hokkien |
Both terms refer to the organ of the body.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 肝臟 / 肝脏 is composed of 肝 (liver) and 臟 (viscera/internal organs).
Is it said differently in some regions?
The forms provided are for Hokkien.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is koaⁿ.
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese internet slang, the word 肝 is used as a verb meaning to work or study intensely for a long time without sleep.
- In traditional Chinese culture and medicine, the 肝 is historically associated with the emotion of anger.
- The word 肝 is used in the phrase 肝胆相照 to describe two people who are completely honest and loyal to each other.
Examples in context
- 我在肝裡給你留了箇地方，酒精啊。I have a corner in my liver just for you, alcohol.This sentence is useful for illustrating how one might personify the organ in relation to alcohol.Tatoeba #5549814 by verdastelo9604, translation #1283571 by marcelostockle
- 我不吃肚也不吃肝。I don't eat tripe or liver.This sentence shows how to express dietary preferences regarding the organ.
- 身體的大部分膽固醇是在肝和腸內由消化的食物製成的。Most of the body's cholesterol is made in the liver and intestine from digested food.This sentence provides a biological context for where cholesterol is produced.
- 中医认为保护肝脏十分重要。In traditional Chinese medicine, protecting the liver is considered essential.
- 我两个月前做了肝脏检查。I had a liver examination two months ago.
Example conversation
At a doctor's office during a checkup.
- 雨婷 Yuting醫生說我的肝不太好。yī shēng shuō wǒ de gān bù tài hǎo.The doctor said my liver is not very good.
- 俊杰 Junjie你要少喝酒，保護好你的肝。nǐ yào shǎo hē jiǔ, bǎo hù hǎo nǐ de gān.You should drink less to protect your liver.
- 雨婷 Yuting我知道了，我會注意飲食的。wǒ zhī dào le, wǒ huì zhù yì yǐn shí de.I know, I will pay attention to my diet.
- 俊杰 Junjie嗯，健康最重要。èn, jiàn kāng zuì zhòng yào.Yes, health is the most important thing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “liver” translations and entries 肝, 肝, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
