Definition
脉 (mài) refers to the pulse or blood vessels (动脉, 静脉), mineral veins (矿脉), and metaphorical networks (人脉, 山脉 mountain range). This reading is distinct from 脉 (mò), which appears only in the reduplicated form 脉脉 (affectionate glance). Use 脉 (mài) for tangible and figurative 'vein-like' connections.
char.
pulseblood vesselvein (as of ore)(figurative) networkconnections
Examples
- 脉。Zhōngyīshī zhèngzài wèi tā qiē mài.The traditional Chinese medicine doctor is taking his pulse.
- 。Zhè tiáo kuàngmài máicáng zài dìxià shēnchù.This mineral vein is buried deep underground.
- 脉。Zuò shēngyi jiǎngjiu jīlěi rénmài.Doing business requires building a network of connections.
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