Translation guide
The organ used for breathing. In Japanese, the most common word is 肺 (はい). This guide covers how to talk about lungs in medical, everyday, and figurative contexts.
lung
Referring to the physical lungs in humans or animals.
The standard word for 'lung' in all contexts. Used in medical, everyday, and figurative language.
肺は胸の中にある臓器です。
The lungs are organs located in the chest.
Smoking is bad for the lungs.
Discussing lung health, diseases, or medical procedures.
Used in compound medical terms. Combine with other kanji to specify conditions.
My father is hospitalized with lung cancer.
Using 'lung' in expressions like 'lungs of the earth' or 'shout at the top of one's lungs'.
Used in some figurative expressions, often as part of a set phrase.
The Amazon is called the lungs of the Earth.
Means 'at the top of one's voice' or 'as loud as one can'. Not a direct translation of 'lung', but used in similar contexts.
He shouted at the top of his lungs.
A literary expression meaning 'to cut to the heart' or 'to deeply move someone'. Literally 'to gouge the lungs'.
Those words cut me to the quick.
The English word 'lung' is sometimes confused with 'heart' in figurative speech, but in Japanese, 肺 (はい) is strictly 'lung'. For 'heart' as an organ, use 心臓 (しんぞう); for emotional heart, use 心 (こころ).
Handwashing is important for preventing pneumonia.