lá gan
Definition
- Noun:
- The liver: The internal organ in vertebrates that performs vital functions including detoxification, protein synthesis, and the production of biochemicals necessary for digestion. In common usage, "lá gan" refers specifically to the liver as a bodily organ.
- Courage / bravery (figurative): In Vietnamese idiomatic expressions, "lá gan" is often used metaphorically to refer to one's spirit, bravery, or audacity.
Usage Examples
- Noun (organ):
- Lá gan là một cơ quan quan trọng trong cơ thể. (The liver is a vital organ in the body.)
- Bác sĩ nói lá gan của ông ấy bị tổn thương. (The doctor said his liver is damaged.)
- Noun (figurative: courage):
- Anh ta có một lá gan rất lớn. (He has a lot of courage / He is very audacious.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost always used in its full form "lá gan." The word "gan" alone can also mean "liver" or "courage," but "lá gan" is the standard, complete term for the physical organ, with "lá" acting as a classifier.
Variants and Related Words
- Gan (n): Can mean "liver" or "courage." Used independently, it is slightly less formal for the organ but very common for metaphorical meaning.
- Anh ấy có gan đối mặt với kẻ thù. (He has the courage to face the enemy.)
- Bệnh gan (n): Liver disease.
- Hút thuốc và uống rượu có thể dẫn đến bệnh gan. (Smoking and drinking can lead to liver disease.)
- Suy gan (n): Liver failure.
- Bệnh nhân được chẩn đoán bị suy gan. (The patient was diagnosed with liver failure.)
Synonyms
- Liver: The bodily organ (primary meaning).
- Courage / bravery / audacity: The figurative meaning.
Related Idioms
- Lá gan to tướng: To have great courage or to be very audacious (often used negatively to imply recklessness).
- Hắn có lá gan to tướng mới dám làm việc đó. (He must have a lot of nerve to dare do that.)
- Thử gan: To test one's courage or nerve.
- Trò chơi cảm giác mạnh này thực sự là để thử gan. (This extreme sport is truly a test of nerve.)