ng5 zong6五臟五脏
Jyutpingng5 zong6
Yaleńgh johng
Definition
The five internal organs in Chinese medicine, or more generally, the human viscera.
- technicalthe five internal organs in Chinese medicine: heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys
- the internal organs or viscera in general
neutralhealthbody
How it's used
Refers specifically to the traditional Chinese medicine classification of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. It is almost always paired with 六腑 to form the set phrase 五臟六腑, which acts as a collective term for all internal organs in the body. Using it outside of this cultural or medical context can sound overly formal or archaic.
Examples
He always says his internal organs don't feel right.
Related words
Common phrases
the five viscera and six bowels
to damage the internal organs
Common mistake
Avoid using this to refer to specific organs in a modern medical context, as it is a conceptual term rather than a precise anatomical one. Use 內臟 for general internal organs.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
