Definitions

xuè (noun) blood (the pronunciation xuè is mostly used in literary language)
xiě (noun) blood (xiě is more common in spoken language, especially when used by itself)

Etymology

Depicts a drop of blood in a container ().

About

is an ideogram constructed from the vessel radical at the base and a single stroke 丿 at the top, directly depicting a drop of blood in a sacrificial container. Its foundational meaning is blood, specifically the blood of animal sacrifices collected in ceremonial vessels during early religious and cultural rituals. The primary definition of the character is the red fluid circulating within the veins of humans and animals, serving as a critical term in both biology and medicine. The structure thus forms a direct visual record of ancient sacrificial practices, using the image of the vessel to ground the otherwise abstract concept of bodily fluid.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的手流了。

Tā de shǒu liúxiě le。

His hand is bleeding。

液在身体里流动。

Xuèyè zài shēntǐ li liúdòng。

Blood flows within the body。

医生要检查我的压。

Yīshēng yào jiǎnchá wǒ de xuèyā。

The doctor wants to check my blood pressure。

他是个热青年。

Tā shì gè rèxuè qīngnián。

He is a passionate young man。

这项任务付出了的代价。

Zhè xiàng rènwù fùchūle xuè de dàijià。

This mission was paid for with blood。

他们之间有缘关系。

Tāmen zhī jiān yǒu xuèyuán guānxì。

They are related by blood。

这种病的症状是咳

Zhè zhǒng bìng de zhèngzhuàng shì kě xuè。

A symptom of this disease is coughing up blood。

历史是由人民的汗写成的。

Lìshǐ shì yóu rénmín de xuèhàn xiě chéng de。

History is written with the blood and sweat of the people。