心臓
Meanings
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.
Usage patterns
- 心臓が高鳴るone's heart pounds/races (from excitement or nervousness)
My heart raced on my first date.
- 〈人〉は心臓が強いsomeone has nerves of steel; is bold and unshakable
He's got nerves of steel; nothing anyone says bothers him.
- 〈場所〉が心臓部だsomewhere/something is the heart (central, vital part) of a system
This factory is the heart of our company.
- 心臓に負担をかけるto put strain on the heart
Excessive exercise puts strain on the heart.
- 〈人〉は心臓が弱いsomeone is timid; can't handle stress or shocking things
She's a bit timid, so scary stories aren't her thing.
Expressions
- ノミの心臓timidity; cowardice; courage of a flea
- 心臓に悪いcausing concern; bad for the heart
- 心臓が止まるone's heart stops beating · be shocked; be staggered
- 心臓に毛が生えたbrazen-faced; shameless; thick-skinned
- 心臓に毛が生えているshameless; brazen; thick-skinned