(gān) — liver (organ)

Definition

Plain anatomical word for the 'liver' organ. 酣畅 is unrelated — it means 'unrestrained and satisfying', not a body part.

noun
liver (organ)
Measure word · 叶, 个

Examples

  • Tā yīn wèi hē jiǔ tài duō, gān bú tài hǎo.
    He drinks too much, so his liver isn't doing well.
  • Yī shēng shuō tā xū yào bǎo hù gān zàng.
    The doctor said he needs to protect his liver.
  • Zhè ge yào duì gān yǒu hǎo chù.
    This medicine is good for the liver.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Written in full asròuflesh; body part
Sound part声符shēngfú
gāngān
Same sound today

The left part ⺼ shows flesh or a body part, while the right part 干 gives the sound. Together they form 肝.

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