Definitions

shèn (noun) kidney

Etymology phono-semantic

flesh

Semantic:

About

The character for kidney, "肾", derives from its traditional form "腎", a phono-semantic compound constructed from the radical "肉" (flesh), commonly written as "月" in character composition, combined with the phonetic element "臤" to suggest pronunciation. In its structural evolution, the complex phonetic component "臤" was later substituted with the simpler "又" in the simplified form "肾", preserving the flesh radical to maintain its semantic association with the body. While the primary meaning has steadfastly denoted the biological organ, historical medical and philosophical texts occasionally applied the term to broader concepts of vitality and foundational bodily energies, reflecting its integral role in traditional physiological systems.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的很健康。

Wǒ de shèn hěn jiànkāng.

My kidney is very healthy.

脏是人体的重要器官。

Shènzàng shì réntǐ de zhòngyào qìguān.

The kidney is an important organ in the human body.

他需要检查功能。

Tā xūyào jiǎnchá shèn gōngnéng.

He needs to check kidney function.

医生建议保护脏健康。

Yīshēng jiànyì bǎohù shènzàng jiànkāng.

The doctor advises protecting kidney health.

慢性病需要长期治疗。

Mànxìng shènbìng xūyào chángqī zhìliáo.

Chronic kidney disease requires long-term treatment.

移植手术非常复杂。

Shèn yízhí shǒushù fēicháng fùzá.

Kidney transplant surgery is very complex.

高血压可能损害功能。

Gāo xuèyā kěnéng sǔnhài shèn gōngnéng.

High blood pressure may damage kidney function.

定期体检可以早期发现问题。

Dìngqī tǐjiǎn kěyǐ zǎoqī fāxiàn shèn wèntí.

Regular physical exams can detect kidney problems early.