肝

gān

干 + 月

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

gān (noun) liver

gān (verb) to grind; to put in long hours (gaming slang)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 干 represents the sound.

Semantic: ⺼ Phonetic: 干

About

肝 (gān) is a phono-semantic compound character. The left side, ⺼ (appearing as 月 and known as the 'flesh' radical), indicates that the word belongs to the category of body parts or internal organs. The right side, 干 (gān), is a phonetic component that supplies the pronunciation. The character denotes the liver. Beyond its anatomical referent, in traditional Chinese medicine and cultural thought, the liver is frequently tied to courage, strong emotions, and vital energy, thus bridging the physical and psychological realms.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

肝脏是人体的重要器官。

Gānzàng shì réntǐ de zhòngyào qìguān.

The liver is an important organ in the human body.

医生检查了他的肝功能。

Yīshēng jiǎnchá le tā de gāngōngnéng.

The doctor checked his liver function.

过量饮酒会伤害肝脏。

Guòliàng yǐnjiǔ huì shānghài gānzàng.

Excessive drinking can harm the liver.

肝病需要及时治疗。

Gānbìng xūyào jíshí zhìliáo.

Liver disease requires timely treatment.

她因为肝癌住院了。

Tā yīnwèi gān'ái zhùyuàn le.

She was hospitalized due to liver cancer.

中医认为肝火旺会导致失眠。

Zhōngyī rènwéi gānhuǒ wàng huì dǎozhì shīmián.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that excessive liver fire can cause insomnia.

肝脏移植手术非常复杂。

Gānzàng yízhí shǒushù fēicháng fùzá.

Liver transplant surgery is very complex.

研究人员正在开发新的肝病药物。

Yánjiū rényuán zhèngzài kāifā xīn de gānbìng yàowù.

Researchers are developing new drugs for liver disease.

Related Characters

Component: 干

Component: 月

肝