Shinzo ni Ke ga Haeteiru (心臓に毛が生えている - Stout)

We sometimes call a person who is stout and brazen 心臓に毛が生えている (shinzo ni ke ga haeteiru).

心臓 (shinzo) means "heart," "毛" means "hair," "生えている" means "sprouting hair," so the literal meaning of this expression is "hairs are sprouted on one's heart."

Originally, this expression was said as 肝に毛が生える (kimo ni ke ga haeru), by using 肝 (kimo - liver) instead of 心臓 (shinzo - heart).

In Japan, "liver" was regarded as a symbol of courage, and it was thought that people who are stout and manful have strong hairy livers.

Later, "kimo" (liver) changed to "shinzo" (heart), influenced by Western thought that our spirits/minds/feelings are in our hearts.

心臓に毛が生えている

図々しい人や、度胸のある人のことを、「心臓に毛が生えている」と言うことがあります。

「心臓」は "heart," 「毛」は "hair," 生えているは "sprouting hair" を意味するので、この言葉の文字通りの意味は "hairs are sprouted on one's heart" となります。

もともとこの言葉は、"liver" を意味する「肝」を使って、「肝に毛が生える」と言われていました。

日本では、「肝（肝臓）」は度胸や勇気の象徴とされており、ここに毛が生えるということは肝が強い、すなわち度胸があると考えられていました。

後に、心（精神）は心臓にあるという西洋の思考に影響され、「肝臓」が「心臓」に置き換わったそうです。

• We sometimes call a person who is stout and brazen 心臓に毛が生えている (shinzo ni ke ga haeteiru).
• Sometimes we call a person who is stout and brazen 心臓に毛が生えている (shinzo ni ke ga haeteiru).

• Originally, this expression was said as 肝に毛が生える (kimo ni ke ga haeru), by using 肝 (kimo - liver) instead of 心臓 (shinzo - heart).
• Originally, this expression was known as 肝に毛が生える (kimo ni ke ga haeru), by using 肝 (kimo - liver) instead of 心臓 (shinzo - heart).

Interesting! I have heard about hairy palms and such, but hairy liver is definitely something else! ^_^