把脉

把脈

bǎmài

verb #62,861

Meanings

1 to feel the pulse (TCM diagnosis)
2 to take someone's pulse
3 (figuratively) to size up a situation

Characters

to hold, to grip

Examples

中医大夫先给我把脉。

Zhōngyī dàifu xiān gěi wǒ bǎmài.

The TCM doctor took my pulse first.

这份报告给市场行情把把脉。

Zhè fèn bàogào gěi shìchǎng hángqíng bǎba mài.

This report takes the pulse of the market situation.

Tips

culture

In TCM the doctor feels three positions on each wrist (寸, 关, 尺) to diagnose the state of different organs. Also written 号脉 (hàomài) with the same meaning.

Stroke Order

把 bǎ

脉 mài