‘结石’ (jié shí) literally means ‘to form stone’ — ‘结’ (jié) means ‘to form, coagulate, or congeal’, and ‘石’ (shí) means ‘stone’. In medical Chinese, it refers to solid, mineral-based deposits that develop inside the body, most commonly in the kidneys, gallbladder, or urinary tract. These formations occur when substances like calcium, oxalate, or uric acid crystallize and accumulate over time.

The word is used almost exclusively in clinical or health-related contexts. While ‘stone’ in English can refer to geological objects or even metaphorical hardships, ‘结石’ has no such figurative usage — it’s strictly a biomedical term. Patients may be diagnosed with ‘肾结石’ (shèn jié shí, kidney stones) or ‘胆结石’ (dǎn jié shí, gallstones), and doctors often discuss prevention through hydration and diet. It is not used for non-biological stones or everyday objects.