Translation guide
The organ 'liver' in Japanese is most commonly 肝臓 (かんぞう) in medical or anatomical contexts, and レバー (rebā) when referring to food. In casual or metaphorical use, 肝 (きも) can also mean 'liver' or 'guts'.
Referring to the liver as an internal organ in medical, biological, or health contexts.
Standard term for the liver organ. Used in medical, anatomical, and everyday health contexts.
I'm studying the function of the liver.
I was told my liver enzyme levels are high.
Can mean liver, but often used in compounds or metaphorical expressions. Less precise than 肝臓 in medical contexts.
It scared the liver out of me. (idiom: I was frightened.)
Referring to liver as a food item, such as in cooking or on a menu.
Loanword from English 'liver', used almost exclusively for liver as food. Common in dishes like レバニラ (liver and chives).
I love stir-fried liver with chives.
The liver at this restaurant is fresh and doesn't have a strong smell.
Sometimes used for liver as food, especially in traditional contexts or set phrases like 肝焼き (grilled liver).
Using 'liver' in expressions related to courage, spirit, or core of something.
Use 肝臓 for the organ in medical/health contexts. Use レバー for food. 肝 can be used in both but is more common in idioms and traditional food names. Using レバー for the organ sounds unnatural, and using 肝臓 for food is overly clinical.
liver transplant
deep-fried liver
test of courage (lit. liver test)
肝焼きを注文した。
I ordered grilled liver.
Colloquial term for 'guts' or 'courage', literally 'liver ball'. Often used in 肝っ玉母さん (tough, big-hearted mother).
That person is timid. (lit. has a small liver ball.)