半 月 板(はんげつばん)

はんげつばん

noun

meniscus (knee cartilage)

1. meniscus; crescent-shaped cartilage in the knee

The C-shaped cartilage pad in the knee joint that acts as a shock absorber between the thighbone and shinbone. Each knee has two menisci (inner and outer). Meniscus injuries are common in sports.

半月板(はんげつばん)を損傷(そんしょう)した。

I injured my meniscus.

サッカーの試合(しあい)で半月板(はんげつばん)を痛(いた)めた。

I hurt my meniscus during a soccer match.

半月板(はんげつばん)の手術(しゅじゅつ)をしてから、完全(かんぜん)に復帰(ふっき)するまで半年(はんとし)かかった。

It took half a year to fully recover after meniscus surgery.

Composed of 半月(はんげつ) (half-moon, crescent) + 板(ばん) (board, plate), describing the crescent shape of the cartilage. The name comes from its half-moon appearance when viewed from above.

Meniscus injuries are one of the most common knee injuries in sports, particularly in activities involving twisting motions like soccer, basketball, and skiing. The word frequently appears in sports news when athletes are sidelined.

Each knee has two menisci: the 内側(うちがわ)半月板(はんげつばん) (medial meniscus) and the 外側(そとがわ)半月板(はんげつばん) (lateral meniscus).

Common collocations

半月板(はんげつばん)損傷(そんしょう): meniscus injury/tear
半月板(はんげつばん)の手術(しゅじゅつ): meniscus surgery
半月板(はんげつばん)を痛(いた)める: to hurt one's meniscus
内側(うちがわ)半月板(はんげつばん): medial meniscus
外側(そとがわ)半月板(はんげつばん): lateral meniscus

Similar words

軟骨(なんこつ): cartilage — the broader category of tissue
靭帯(じんたい): ligament — another common knee injury site
膝(ひざ): knee — the joint where the meniscus is located

Related Words

Compare: 軟骨(なんこつ) (cartilage)

Compare: 靭帯(じんたい) (ligament)

Compare: 膝(ひざ) (knee)

general

Added 2026.4.30 0:31 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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