HSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9735, Hard
脉
mò
arteries and veins
HSK 6, ng, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9735, Hard
脉
mò
vein (on a leaf, insect wing etc)
HSK 6, ng, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9735, Hard
脉
mò
a pulse; arteries, veins; blood vessels
HSK 6, ng, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9735, Hard
脉
mò
old variant of 脈
HSK 6, ng, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9735, Hard
脉
mò
old variant of 脈|脉[mai4]
HSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #9735, Hard
mài(mai4)
primary
T4
1arteries and veins
2vein (on a leaf, insect wing etc)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
脉(䘑)mài(mai4)
The character 脉 (mài) primarily refers to blood vessels, such as arteries and veins, as well as the pulse. It also denotes veins observed on leaves or insect wings. This character is commonly used in medical contexts, particularly discussions related to circulation and anatomy.
Strokes9Radical⺼Frequency#9735DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese medicine, the concept of '脉' is crucial as it relates to diagnosing health through pulse reading. This practice reflects the holistic view of health in Chinese culture, where the pulse indicates not just blood flow but overall well-being.
Memory Tip
Imagine a heartbeat (脉) that travels through arteries and veins. The character's left side, with a 'flesh' radical (肉), suggests its connection to the body, while the right side resembles a flowing river, symbolizing blood flow.
Meanings of 脉
mài(mai4)
primary
1arteries and veins
2vein (on a leaf, insect wing etc)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 脉
脉Simplified
䘑Traditional
9Strokes
⺼Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#9735Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6
Podcast: 脉
Podcast: 脉
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AI Study Notes for 脉
Quick Contrast
脉 (mài) vs 血管 (xuèguǎn) — use 脉 when referring to pulse or veins in a broader context, while 血管 specifically denotes blood vessels.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a heartbeat (脉) that travels through arteries and veins. The character's left side, with a 'flesh' radical (肉), suggests its connection to the body, while the right side resembles a flowing river, symbolizing blood flow.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 脉 (mài) has a fourth tone, which can be confused with other similar-sounding characters. It is often used in formal contexts, such as medical discussions. Common collocations include phrases related to health and anatomy, like '脉搏' (pulse).
HSK Study Tips
Though 脉 is not included in the current HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to other medical terms and words dealing with the body, which could be beneficial for learners interested in health-related topics. Focus on recognizing its usage in context.
Cultural Note
In Chinese medicine, the concept of '脉' is crucial as it relates to diagnosing health through pulse reading. This practice reflects the holistic view of health in Chinese culture, where the pulse indicates not just blood flow but overall well-being.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 脉 (mài) with other characters that have similar pronunciations but different meanings. For example, mixing it up with 买 (mǎi, to buy) due to tonal errors can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 脉
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Grammar Patterns of 脉
脉 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 4
Complete the Sentence
他们给我量了____搏、血压，还给我的下颌拍了X光片。
They took my pulse, took my blood pressure, and X-rayed my jaw.
Example Sentences for 脉 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们给我量了脉搏、血压，还给我的下颌拍了X光片。
tā mén gěi wǒ liáng le mài bó、 、 xiě， yā ， huán gěi wǒ de xià héX pāi le。
They took my pulse, took my blood pressure, and X-rayed my jaw.
The part of the continent to the " east " of the mountains is a high plateau.
10
某些脉冲星发送脉冲比地球上最精确的时钟都准时。
mǒu xiē mài chōng xīng fā sòng mài chōng bǐ dì qiú shàng zuì jīng què de shí zhōng dū zhǔn shí。
Some pulsars keep time better than the earth's most accurate clocks.
Cultural Notes for 脉
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese medicine, the concept of '脉' is crucial as it relates to diagnosing health through pulse reading. This practice reflects the holistic view of health in Chinese culture, where the pulse indicates not just blood flow but overall well-being.
Word Family of 脉
Words Containing This Character20
动脉dòngmàiartery動脈
静脉vein靜脈
脉màiarteries and veins脈
脉搏màibópulse (both medical and figurative)脈搏
脉冲pulse (physics)脈衝
山脉shānmàimountain range山脈
血脉xuèmàiblood vessels血脈
主动脉aorta主動脈
冠状动脉coronary artery冠狀動脈
来龙去脉láilóngqùmàicauses and effects來龍去脈
肺动脉pulmonary artery肺動脈
大动脉fig. main highway大動脈
经脉channel of TCM經脈
脉络màiluòarteries and veins脈絡
命脉lifeline命脈
动脉硬化arteriosclerosis動脈硬化
一脉相承traceable to the same stock (idiom); of a common origin (of trends, ideas etc)一脈相承
脉络膜choroid (vascular layer of the eyeball between the retina and the sclera)脈絡膜
脉动pulse脈動
含情脉脉full of tender feelings (idiom); tender-hearted含情脈脈
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 动脉 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 脉
In medical contexts, 脉 refers to blood vessels and the pulse, essential for understanding circulation.
Make sure to use the fourth tone, pronounced as 'mài', to differentiate it from similar words.
Yes, but it's more commonly used in formal or medical discussions rather than casual conversations.
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