臓器
zōki
The English phrase 'organs' is translated into Japanese as 臓器 (zōki).
臓器 is used to refer to the specialized parts of a body, such as the heart or liver, that perform specific functions.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 臓 (zō), meaning viscera or internal organ and the kanji 器 (ki), meaning vessel or tool.
Which one should you use?
臓器 refers to organs as biological or medical entities. In contrast, the word 内臓 (naizō) is more commonly used in everyday conversation to refer specifically to the 'innards' or the internal organs located within the abdominal cavity.
How do you pronounce it?
zōki
Did you know?
- The kanji 器 used in 臓器 is also used for 'musical instruments' and 'tableware', framing a biological organ as a specialized 'tool' or 'vessel'.
- While 臓器 is a clinical term, the word 内臓 (innards) is used in Japanese cuisine to describe a specific category of grilled offal dishes.
- Japanese does not use the word 臓器 for 'gut feelings', instead using 腹 (belly) or 直感 (intuition) for such idioms.
Examples in context
- 癌が、他の臓器に転移し始めています。The cancer has begun to spread to other organs.This sentence shows how to describe cancer spreading to other 臓器.Tatoeba #11571786 by small_snow, translation #9618813 by megamanenm
- 私たちは内臓器官を調べるためにカエルを解剖した。We dissected a frog to examine its internal organs.This sentence uses 臓器 in the context of dissecting an animal to examine its parts.Tatoeba #165378 by KK_kaku_, translation #249127 by CK
- もし臓器の販売を合法化したら、潜在的な健康問題が生じるかも知れません。If the sale of organs is legalised, potential health problems may arise.This sentence refers to the legal and health implications of the sale of 臓器.Tatoeba #1022230 by alphafour, translation #1022231 by alphafour
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are studying biology in a classroom.
- 陽太 Yota人間の体には、どんな臓器があるのかな？Ningen no karada ni wa, donna zōki ga aru no kana?I wonder what organs are in the human body?
- 結衣 Yui心臓や肝臓など、たくさんの臓器があるよ。Shinzō ya kanzō nado, takusan no zōki ga aru yo.There are many organs, such as the heart and liver.
- 陽太 Yotaそれぞれの臓器が違う役割を持っているんだね。Sorezore no zōki ga chigau yakuwari o motte iru n da ne.So each organ has a different role.
- 結衣 Yuiそうだよ。全部が連携して働いているんだよ。Sō da yo. Zenbu ga renkei shite hataraite iru n da yo.That's right. They all work together.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
