‘脾脏’ (pí zàng) is the standard anatomical term for the ‘spleen’—a soft, purplish organ located in the upper left abdomen. It plays key roles in filtering blood, recycling old red blood cells, and supporting immune function. The character 脾 (pí) specifically denotes the spleen as an internal organ, while 脏 (zàng) means ‘viscera’ or ‘internal organ’, making this a compound noun where both characters contribute to the precise medical meaning.

In Chinese, ‘脾脏’ is used primarily in formal, medical, or scientific contexts—such as health reports, textbooks, or doctor-patient communication. It is not commonly used in casual speech; people may refer to general discomfort in that area using phrases like ‘左上腹不舒服’ (discomfort in the upper left abdomen) instead. Unlike English, Chinese does not use ‘spleen’ metaphorically (e.g., ‘splenic humor’)—so ‘脾脏’ remains strictly physiological and literal.