Meaning
脉 refers to blood vessels in the body, particularly veins and arteries, and most commonly the pulse that doctors check. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, taking the pulse is a fundamental diagnostic technique. The character combines the flesh/body radical with a phonetic component suggesting flow.
Usage
Most commonly used in medical contexts, especially Traditional Chinese Medicine where 把脉 (checking the pulse) is a standard practice. Also appears in compound words related to blood vessels, mountains ranges (山脉), and economic/social systems. The traditional form 脈 is still widely used in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Examples
- 01中医给病人把脉来诊断疾病。.Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors diagnose illness by taking the patient's pulse.
- 02喜马拉雅山脉是世界上最高的山脉。.The Himalayan mountain range is the highest mountain range in the world.
Measure words
- 条一条血脉
Common collocations
- 把脉to take someone's pulse
- 脉搏pulse, heartbeat
- 山脉mountain range
- 叶脉veins of a leaf
Origin
The traditional character 脈 contains the flesh radical 月 on the left, indicating body parts, and 𤴓 on the right as a phonetic component. The simplified form 脉 replaced the right component with 永, making it easier to write while maintaining the pronunciation.