also: こうもう
innermost part of the body; vital region beyond medical reach
Classical term from Chinese medicine, referring to the deep interior of the body where disease becomes untreatable. Now mostly encountered in the set phrase 病膏肓に入る (やまいこうこうにいる), meaning 'the disease has reached a critical, incurable stage'.
See also: 病膏肓に入る (やまいこうこうにいる)
The expression 病膏肓に入る refers to a state where an illness has become so deep that it cannot be cured.
Classical kanji compound; the reading こうこう is standard, while こうもう is an irregular reading.
Irregular reading for the same kanji form; less common than こうこう.
From Chinese 膏肓 (gāohuāng), a term in traditional Chinese medicine referring to the region between the heart and diaphragm, considered the deepest part of the body and beyond the reach of acupuncture or medicine.