Translation guide
The organ 'liver' in Japanese is most commonly 肝臓 (かんぞう) in medical or anatomical contexts, and レバー (rebā) when referring to food. In casual or metaphorical use, 肝 (きも) can also mean 'liver' or 'guts'.
Referring to the liver as an internal organ in medical, biological, or health contexts.
Referring to liver as a food item, such as in cooking or on a menu.
Loanword from English 'liver', used almost exclusively for liver as food. Common in dishes like レバニラ (liver and chives).
Using 'liver' in expressions related to courage, spirit, or core of something.
Used in many idioms meaning 'guts', 'courage', or 'nerve'. Often paired with 据える (to settle) or 太い (thick).
Use 肝臓 for the organ in medical/health contexts. Use レバー for food. 肝 can be used in both but is more common in idioms and traditional food names. Using レバー for the organ sounds unnatural, and using 肝臓 for food is overly clinical.
Standard term for the liver organ. Used in medical, anatomical, and everyday health contexts.
肝臓の働きについて勉強しています。
I'm studying the function of the liver.
肝臓の数値が高いと言われました。
I was told my liver enzyme levels are high.
Can mean liver, but often used in compounds or metaphorical expressions. Less precise than 肝臓 in medical contexts.
肝を冷やした。
It scared the liver out of me. (idiom: I was frightened.)
レバニラ炒めが大好きです。
I love stir-fried liver with chives.
この店のレバーは新鮮で臭みがない。
The liver at this restaurant is fresh and doesn't have a strong smell.
Sometimes used for liver as food, especially in traditional contexts or set phrases like 肝焼き (grilled liver).
肝焼きを注文した。
I ordered grilled liver.
彼は肝が据わっている。
He has nerves of steel. (lit. His liver is settled.)
肝の太い人だ。
He's a bold person. (lit. A person with a thick liver.)
Colloquial term for 'guts' or 'courage', literally 'liver ball'. Often used in 肝っ玉母さん (tough, big-hearted mother).
あの人は肝っ玉が小さい。
That person is timid. (lit. has a small liver ball.)