肾脏 (shènzàng): kidney

Measure Word

一个肾脏 gè

Meanings

1 kidney

Characters

internal organ; viscera

肾 specifies the kidney, 脏 indicates it is an internal organ. Compare: 心脏 (heart), 肝脏 (liver), 肺脏 (lungs).

Examples

HSK 2

多喝水对肾脏有好处。

Duō hē shuǐ duì shènzàng yǒu hǎochu.

Drinking more water is good for your kidneys.

HSK 7-9

人体有两个肾脏。

Réntǐ yǒu liǎng gè shènzàng.

The human body has two kidneys.

HSK 7-9

他需要做肾脏移植手术。

Tā xūyào zuò shènzàng yízhí shǒushù.

He needs a kidney transplant surgery.

Tips

usage

In everyday speech, 肾 alone is often sufficient. 肾脏 is the more formal/medical term. In traditional Chinese medicine, 肾 has a much broader meaning than just the physical organ - it encompasses an entire system related to vitality and constitution.