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jephs • yesterday at 7:11 PM • 3 replies • view on HN

There are a bunch of Japanese words (including a several loanwords from Chinese) that use the liver / gallbladder metaphorically for courage. Both derive from associations between the humours and personality / behavior. I have no idea, however, why both Eastern and Western naive psychology associate gall with, well, gall.


Replies

BobaFloutist • yesterday at 8:02 PM

>I have no idea, however, why both Eastern and Western naive psychology associate gall with, well, gall.

Possibly because it's filled with strong acid.

vconnor • yesterday at 7:27 PM

In Italian, to have 'liver' (fegato) means to be courageous.