In Western medicine, the liver is a biological filter. In China, the 肝 (gān) is a cornerstone of a person's entire being—physical, emotional, and even spiritual.
Where an English speaker might say, “He's got a lot of guts” or “She has a lot of nerve,” a Chinese speaker might reference the liver and gallbladder with 肝胆 (gāndǎn). While the West separates the physical organ from the personality trait, Chinese culture sees them as intrinsically linked. The phrase “liverish,” an old-fashioned English word for “irritable,” is a fascinating parallel to 肝火 (gānhuǒ), but the underlying holistic philosophy in Chinese is far more developed and central to daily life.
Paradoxically, this organ of anger is also part of one of the most tender terms of endearment. 心肝 (xīngān), meaning “heart and liver,” is used to refer to one's most cherished person, usually a child or a romantic partner. It's equivalent to calling someone “my sweetheart,” “my darling,” or “the apple of my eye,” implying that the person is as vital to you as your own core organs.
You will encounter 肝 (gān) in medical, emotional, and affectionate contexts.