经脉 (jīng mài) — the meridians or channels in traditional Chinese medicine through which qi and blood flow

Definition

In traditional Chinese medicine, 经脉 are the body's invisible channels carrying qi and blood, linking acupoints. Distinct from Western "blood vessels" (血管), which are physical anatomy.

noun
the meridians or channels in traditional Chinese medicine through which qi and blood flow
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • ，经脉。
    Zhōng yī rèn wéi, rén tǐ yǒu shí èr tiáo zhǔ yào de jīng mài.
    Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the human body has twelve main meridians.
  • 经脉。
    Zhēn jiǔ tōng guò cì jī xué wèi lái tiáo jié jīng mài zhōng de qì xuè.
    Acupuncture regulates the qi and blood in the meridians by stimulating acupoints.
  • 经脉。
    Zhè wèi lǎo zhōng yī duì jīng mài de zǒu xiàng liǎo rú zhǐ zhǎng.
    This veteran TCM doctor knows the pathways of the meridians like the back of his hand.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

经jīngchannel
脉màivessel

经 and 脉 both refer to channels or vessels, together naming the body's meridian network.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →

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.

Open 脉 →

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