spleen, pancreas

JLPT N5 12 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character primarily refers to the spleen, an organ in the human body. It is also used metaphorically to describe a person's temperament or disposition, especially in phrases like 脾气 (píqì), meaning 'temper' or 'mood.'

Common Collocations

  • 脾气 (píqì): temper, mood — used to describe someone's emotional state or personality.
  • (pízàng): spleen — the anatomical organ.
  • (píxū): spleen deficiency — a term in traditional Chinese medicine.

Usage Notes

When used in medical contexts, refers specifically to the spleen. In everyday speech, 脾气 is a very common word to talk about someone's temperament. Be careful not to confuse with 胰 (yí), which means pancreas.

Register and Tone

is a neutral term in both medical and colloquial contexts. When talking about temperament, it is informal and widely used in daily conversation.

Example Sentences

The doctor said my spleen is slightly enlarged and needs further

He has a good temper and never loses his temper easily.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes the spleen governs transportation and