<p>When referring to the organ in a medical setting, it'll often be the longer, more precise form <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BF%83%E8%84%8F" rel="nofollow noreferrer">心脏</a>, e.g.:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他父亲刚从<strong>心脏</strong>手术中恢复过来。<br />
His father has just recovered from <strong>heart</strong> surgery.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>By your description, it looks like you would want to use this longer form.</p>
<p>When used more casually, it'll often be the shorter form <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BF%83" rel="nofollow noreferrer">心</a>, e.g.:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他看见她时，<strong>心</strong>猛地一跳。<br />
His <strong>heart</strong> gave a sudden leap when he saw her.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This still literally describes his heart jumping, but it could also be used figuratively.  Then it gets a bit more metaphorical with e.g.:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>她有一颗善良的<strong>心</strong>。<br />
She has a kind <strong>heart</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It is also often used metaphorically in the construct <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BF%83%E9%87%8C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">心里</a> to indicate personal feelings, e.g.:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>看到他们这样确实让我<strong>心里</strong>难过。<br />
It really breaks my <strong>heart</strong> to see them this way.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-14T07:47:31.183Z
The second example could be understand as 心 used in the word 心跳. When composing a longer word with the organ heart, it typically use 心 in the word. For example: 心房、心室、心肌、心率、心律、心衰、心绞痛、心动过速……
tsh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-12T09:28:55.230Z
2020-07-12T09:28:55.230Z
Becky 李蓓
<p>I would like to know which Chinese word is used when we are speaking about the heart as an organ, and not a feeling or the seat of soul affections. The most commonly used word :-)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-12T07:12:00.373Z
Yes, period. Or 心臟/心脏, more specifically.
Stan
<meaning-in-context><simplified-characters>
does 心 used for translation of the heart as an organ?
# does 心 used for translation of the heart as an organ?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-07-12)

I would like to know which Chinese word is used when we are speaking about the heart as an organ, and not a feeling or the seat of soul affections. The most commonly used word :-)

**Tags:** meaning-in-context, simplified-characters

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Yes, period. Or 心臟/心脏, more specifically.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-07-12. Score: 4

When referring to the organ in a medical setting, it'll often be the longer, more precise form [心脏](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BF%83%E8%84%8F), e.g.:

> 他父亲刚从**心脏**手术中恢复过来。  
> His father has just recovered from **heart** surgery.

By your description, it looks like you would want to use this longer form.

When used more casually, it'll often be the shorter form [心](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BF%83), e.g.:

> 他看见她时，**心**猛地一跳。  
> His **heart** gave a sudden leap when he saw her.

This still literally describes his heart jumping, but it could also be used figuratively. Then it gets a bit more metaphorical with e.g.:

> 她有一颗善良的**心**。  
> She has a kind **heart**.

It is also often used metaphorically in the construct [心里](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BF%83%E9%87%8C) to indicate personal feelings, e.g.:

> 看到他们这样确实让我**心里**难过。  
> It really breaks my **heart** to see them this way.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: The second example could be understand as 心 used in the word 心跳. When composing a longer word with the organ heart, it typically use 心 in the word. For example: 心房、心室、心肌、心率、心律、心衰、心绞痛、心动过速……  

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