命脉 (mìng mài) — lifeblood; lifeline (the most vital element or…

Definition

noun

lifebloodlifeline (the most vital element or factor that sustains something)

命脉，，。
Jiāo tōng shì chéng shì de mìng mài, yí dàn tān huàn, zhěng gè chéng shì jiù huì xiàn rù hùn luàn.
Transportation is the lifeblood of a city; once it's paralyzed, the entire city falls into chaos.
命脉，，。
Shuǐ shì nóng yè de mìng mài, méi yǒu shuǐ, zhuāng jia jiù wú fǎ shēng zhǎng.
Water is the lifeline of agriculture; without it, crops cannot grow.
命脉，。
Néng yuán chǎn yè shì guó jiā jīng jì de mìng mài, bì xū què bǎo qí ān quán wěn dìng.
The energy industry is the lifeblood of the national economy; its security and stability must be ensured.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

命 is life, and 脉 is a vein or pulse, so the word pictures a vital lifeline.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

令

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

命 combines 口, a mouth, with 令, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 脈; 脉 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

⺼Written in full as肉ròuflesh

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠂢

𠂢𠂢脈mài

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 脈 pairs ⺼ (flesh) with a sound part, 𠂢; the simplified 脉 is a shorthand, so its right side is not the historical sound part.