肝
liver, pluck, nerve, chutzpah
Readings
On'yomi
- カン
Kun'yomi
- きも
Meaning
肝 centers on the liver as an organ, and by extension the seat of courage, nerve, or boldness (pluck, chutzpah).
Most common words using 肝
20 of 80- 肝きもN1
liver; innards
- 肝心かんじんN2
essential; important; crucial; vital; main
- 肝臓かんぞうN1
liver
- 肝炎かんえん
hepatitis
- 度肝どぎも
guts; pluck; nerve; spirit
- 肝要かんよう
extremely important; essential; vital; crucial
- 肝硬変かんこうへん
cirrhosis (of the liver)
- 肝っ玉きもったま
guts; pluck; nerve; spirit
- 肝いりきもいり
good offices; auspices; sponsorship; help; assistance
- 肝油かんゆ
fish-liver oil (cod, shark, etc.)
- A型肝炎エーがたかんえん
hepatitis A
- B型肝炎ビーがたかんえん
hepatitis B
- C型肝炎シーがたかんえん
hepatitis C
- D型肝炎ディーがたかんえん
hepatitis D
- E型肝炎イーがたかんえん
hepatitis E
- あん肝あんきも
monkfish liver; goosefish liver
- アルコール性肝障害アルコールせいかんしょうがい
alcoholic liver disease
- ウイルス性肝炎ウイルスせいかんえん
viral hepatitis
- 休肝日きゅうかんび
teetotal day; day off drinking; liver rest day
- 劇症肝炎げきしょうかんえん
acute hepatitis
Study
Etymology
肝 combines the flesh radical ⺼ (body part) with 干, which likely provides the sound カン. The character originally referred to the liver.
Meaning mnemonic
The flesh radical ⺼ marks this as a body part, and 干 looks like a shield. Picture the liver as the body's shield, protecting you with its nerve and pluck.
Reading mnemonic
For カン, imagine a can of liver pâté: can -> カン, and the liver inside gives you the courage to try it.