血 (xiě) — blood

Definition

Colloquial pronunciation of 'blood' (xiě), used in everyday speech. The literary form 血液 (xuèyè) is used in scientific/formal writing.

noun
blood
Measure word · 滴, 片
Easily confused

Examples

  • 血。
    Tā shǒu zhǐ shàng yǒu yì dī xiě.
    He has a drop of blood on his finger.
  • 血。
    Dì shàng yǒu yì tān xiě.
    There is a pool of blood on the floor.
  • 血，。
    Tā liú le hěn duō xiě, xū yào xiū xi.
    She lost a lot of blood and needs to rest.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 一一yīdrop of blood
  • 皿皿mǐncontainer

The shape shows 一, a drop of blood, inside 皿, a container, for blood held in a sacrificial vessel.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsOrgans & Anatomy2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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