Anatomical term for the heart. Used in medical and everyday contexts.
My heartbeat quickened.
He underwent heart surgery.
Figurative use for boldness, audacity, or shamelessness. Often used in phrases like 心臓が強い (thick-skinned) or 心臓に毛が生えている (shameless).
Lying so calmly like that, he must have nerves of steel.
She's thick-skinned, so she doesn't mind criticism.
heart (of something); central part
Metaphorical use for the core or central part of a system, organization, or place. Common in compounds like 心臓部.
This region is the economic heartland.
The heart of a computer is the CPU.
My heart raced on my first date.
He's got nerves of steel; nothing anyone says bothers him.
This factory is the heart of our company.
Excessive exercise puts strain on the heart.
She's a bit timid, so scary stories aren't her thing.
心臓 is the physical heart organ, while 心 refers to the mind or emotional heart; the English word 'heart' covers both, so learners often mix them up.
cardioid · heart-shaped; cordate
cardiac death