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命脉

命脈
mìngmài
noun #33,441

Measure Word

一条命脉 tiáo

Meanings

  1. 1 lifeline
  2. 2 vital artery; the lifeblood (of an industry, region, etc.)

Examples

HSK 5
这条公路是山区的经济命脉。
Zhè tiáo gōnglù shì shānqū de jīngjì mìngmài.
This highway is the economic lifeline of the mountain region.
HSK 6
出口贸易是这个小国的命脉。
Chūkǒu màoyì shì zhège xiǎo guó de mìngmài.
Export trade is the lifeblood of this small country.
HSK 7-9
水利是农业的命脉。
Shuǐlì shì nóngyè de mìngmài.
Water conservation is the lifeline of agriculture.

Tips

memory
命 (life) + 脉 (blood vessel/artery) = the artery of life. Used metaphorically: agriculture's 命脉 is water, a city's 命脉 is its rail line, a company's 命脉 is its supply chain. Cut the 命脉 and the system dies.

Stroke Order

命 mìng
脉 mài