胃

Ideogrammatic compound:

田 (밭 전) — symbolizes the shape of the stomach, divided into compartments like a field.

肉 (고기 육) — semantic element indicating that the organ belongs to the body.

Together, they depict a fleshly organ resembling a sectioned field, representing the internal cavity where food is stored and processed.

In modern usage, it appears in medical and everyday compounds such as:

胃腸 (위장) — stomach and intestines

胃炎 (위염) — gastritis

胃痛 (위통) — stomachache

In Traditional East Asian Medicine, 胃 is paired with 脾 (spleen) in the 脾胃學說 (theory of spleen and stomach), which emphasizes balance in digestion and energy transformation.

A healthy stomach was regarded as the foundation of physical and spiritual strength — “脾胃者，後天之本” (“The spleen and stomach are the root of postnatal life”).

Beyond anatomy, 胃 also appears metaphorically to express inner capacity or endurance — as in idioms describing “having the stomach” for challenges or hardship.