肺はい肝かん

noun

lungs and liver

Formal or literary term for the lungs and liver as organs. Rare in everyday conversation; more common in medical or classical contexts.

• 古こ典てん医い学がくでは、肺はい肝かんの調ちょう和わが健けん康こうの鍵かぎとされた。

  In classical medicine, harmony between the lungs and liver was considered key to health.

noun

depths of one's heart; innermost heart

Figurative, formal/literary expression for one's deepest feelings or true intentions. Often used in set phrases like 肺肝を披く (to open one's heart) or 肺肝を砕く (to rack one's brains).

• 彼かれは友ともに肺はい肝かんを披ひらいて悩なやみを打うち明あけた。

  He opened his heart to his friend and confided his troubles.

• 肺はい肝かんを砕くだいて考かんがえた末すえ、ようやく解かい決けつ策さくを見みつけた。

  After racking his brains, he finally found a solution.