Korean Dictionary
How to say "Liver" in Korean
“Liver” in Korean is 간 (pronounced "gan").
간
gan
Usage & Context
The organ that filters blood. Used in medical and health discussions. Important for discussing organ health.
Example Sentence
간이 안 좋아요.
My liver is not healthy.
How to use 간 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Liver” is 간, romanized as gan.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 간.
Pronunciation Guide
"Gan" is pronounced like the English word "gone," but with a shorter 'a' sound, similar to "ah" in "father." The 'g' sound is soft, like in "garden."
More Example Sentences
Warning about excessive drinking.
술을 너무 많이 마시면 간에 무리가 가요.
If you drink too much alcohol, it puts a strain on your liver.
Deciding to get a health check-up.
간 검사를 받아봐야겠어요.
I should get a liver exam.
Explaining a symptom of liver issues.
간이 안 좋으면 피로감을 쉽게 느껴요.
If your liver isn't healthy, you feel tired easily.
Cultural Context
The liver ("간") holds significant cultural importance in Korea, often associated with fatigue and alcohol consumption. "간 때문이야!" (gan ttaemun-iya! - "It's because of the liver!") was a popular commercial jingle for a liver supplement, highlighting the common belief that liver health is key to overcoming fatigue. Discussions about "간" are frequent, especially among adults, concerning hangovers, fatigue, and general well-being.
Editorial note
We review entries like 간 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
간이 안 좋다
to have a bad liver / liver is unhealthy
간에 좋다
good for the liver
간 때문이야
It's because of the liver (often used humorously for fatigue)
Related Expressions
쓸개
sseulgae
gallbladder
간염
gan-yeom
hepatitis
간암
gan-am
liver cancer
간 기능
gan gineung
liver function
More Body Parts Words
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