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泌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
泌mìto secretenz, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #27281, Hard
泌mìto excretenz, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #27281, Hard
泌mìalso pr. [bì]nz, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #27281, Hard
泌mìto seep out, to secretenz, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #27281, Hard
泌mìalso pr. [bi4]unknown, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #27281, Hard
mì(mi4) T4
  1. 1to secrete
  2. 2to excrete
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
泌mì(mi4)

The character 泌 (mì) primarily means 'to secrete' or 'to excrete,' often used in biological or medical contexts to describe the release of substances from glands or organs. It can also imply the process of fluids seeping out or leaking, indicating a gradual or involuntary action.

Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#27281DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the concept of secretions plays a significant role in diagnosing health conditions, reflecting the belief that bodily fluids must be balanced for good health.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'misty' liquid (mì sounds like 'mist') that seeps slowly from a sponge (the radical 水, meaning water). Visualize the sponge releasing water droplets, reminding you of the process of secretion.

Meanings of 泌

mì(mi4)
1to secrete
2to excrete
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 泌

泌Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#27281Frequency Rank

Podcast: 泌

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Podcast: 泌

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 泌

Quick Contrast

分泌 (fēnbì) — use 泌 (mì) specifically for involuntary secretion, while 分泌 (fēnbì) often implies a more active or regulated process.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'misty' liquid (mì sounds like 'mist') that seeps slowly from a sponge (the radical 水, meaning water). Visualize the sponge releasing water droplets, reminding you of the process of secretion.

Usage Notes

This character is often used in formal or technical contexts, such as medical terminology. Common phrases include 泌尿 (mìniào), meaning 'urinary,' so be cautious of its usage in everyday conversation. Remember the correct pronunciation 'mì' to avoid confusion with 'bì'.

HSK Study Tips

As 泌 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on its connections to HSK-related medical terms. Recognizing this character can help in understanding more complex terms in biology and medicine at higher levels.

Cultural Note

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the concept of secretions plays a significant role in diagnosing health conditions, reflecting the belief that bodily fluids must be balanced for good health.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse the pronunciation of 泌 (mì) with its alternate pronunciation (bì), leading to misunderstandings. For instance, saying 'bì' when discussing secretions would be incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 泌

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Etymology of 泌

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 必 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

water

Semantic (meaning)氵
+
Phonetic (sound)必
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 泌?

Decomposition of 泌

IDS Structure⿰氵必
泌Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
必bi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 泌?

Write 泌

泌

Practice writing 泌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 泌

泌 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

他们开始发烧，眼睛里分____出一种水状物。

They develop a fever and a watery discharge from their eyes.

Example Sentences for 泌 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们开始发烧，眼睛里分泌出一种水状物。

tā mén kāi shǐ fā shāo， ， yǎn jīng lǐ fēn mì chū yī zhǒng shuǐ zhuàng。

They develop a fever and a watery discharge from their eyes.
2
小剂量可抑制唾液分泌、支气管分泌及出汗.

xiǎo jì liáng kě yì zhì tuò yè fēn mì、 、 zhī qì guǎn fēn mì jí chū.

Small doses depress salivary and bronchial secretion and sweating.
3
这种消化液(每天约分泌1品脱)流入我的十二指肠, 把酸中和了.

zhè zhǒng xiāo huà yè( ( měi tiān yuē fēn1 mì 1) pǐn tuō ) liú rù wǒ de shí, èr zhǐ cháng , bǎ.

This juice - about a quart a day -- pours into my duodenum, neutralizing acids.

Cultural Notes for 泌

🏮Cultural insight

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the concept of secretions plays a significant role in diagnosing health conditions, reflecting the belief that bodily fluids must be balanced for good health.

Word Family of 泌

Words Containing This Character10
分泌fēnmìto secrete
内分泌endocrine (internal secretion, e.g. hormone)內分泌
分泌物secretion
泌mìto secrete
泌尿to urinate
内分泌腺endocrine gland內分泌腺
外分泌exocrine
泌阳Biyang county in Zhumadian 駐馬店|驻马店[Zhù​mǎ​diàn], Henan泌陽
泌阳县Biyang county in Zhumadian 駐馬店|驻马店[Zhù​mǎ​diàn], Henan泌陽縣
泌尿器urinary tract
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 分泌 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 泌

The correct pronunciation is mì, with a falling tone.