HSK 4, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 血, rank #679, Medium
血
xiě
blood
HSK 4, n, 6 strokes, radical 血, rank #679, Medium
血
xiě
colloquial pr. [xiě]
HSK 4, n, 6 strokes, radical 血, rank #679, Medium
血
xiě
colloquial pr. [xie3]
HSK 4, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 血, rank #679, Medium
xuè(xue4)
primary
T4
1blood
2colloquial pr. [xiě]
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
血xuè(xue4)
The character 血 (xuè) means 'blood' in Mandarin. It refers to the bodily fluid that circulates in the human body, carrying nutrients and oxygen. This term is often used in medical contexts or in idiomatic expressions to describe life force or vitality.
Strokes6Radical血Frequency#679DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, blood is often associated with familial ties and ancestry. Expressions like '血浓于水' (blood is thicker than water) reflect the importance of family connections in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Think of 血 (xuè) as a red river flowing through your body. The left side of the character resembles the shape of a body, and the right side resembles a drop of blood. Imagine that every time you say 'xuè,' you're visualizing this vital fluid flowing through you.
Meanings of 血
xuè(xue4)
primary
1blood
2colloquial pr. [xiě]
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 血
血Simplified
6Strokes
血Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#679Frequency Rank
滴Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 血
Podcast: 血
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AI Study Notes for 血
Quick Contrast
血 (xuè) vs 液 (yè) — use 血 when specifically referring to 'blood' as a bodily fluid, while 液 refers to 'liquid' in a more general sense.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 血 (xuè) as a red river flowing through your body. The left side of the character resembles the shape of a body, and the right side resembles a drop of blood. Imagine that every time you say 'xuè,' you're visualizing this vital fluid flowing through you.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the pronunciation; it’s commonly mispronounced as [xiě] instead of the correct [xuè]. 血 is often used in medical contexts and can appear in compound words like 血压 (blood pressure) or 血液 (blood fluid). It is generally neutral in tone and does not carry formal or informal connotations.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 血 connects with other health-related vocabulary. Students should focus on understanding its usage in phrases and compounds, as these will enhance comprehension and communication in medical or health discussions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, blood is often associated with familial ties and ancestry. Expressions like '血浓于水' (blood is thicker than water) reflect the importance of family connections in Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 血 with the similar-sounding characters. For example, saying '血' as [xiě] instead of [xuè] is a frequent error. Always remember to use the correct tone, as it changes the meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 血
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Grammar Patterns of 血
血 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In Chinese culture, blood is often associated with familial ties and ancestry. Expressions like '血浓于水' (blood is thicker than water) reflect the importance of family connections in Chinese society.
Word Family of 血
Compounds21
恤xu4to help, to relieve, to take pity on
衅xin4quarrel
裇xu1shirt
桖
侐
殈
洫xu4moat, ditch
衁
衄nü4a bloody nose; to be defeated
衈
衉
衋
卹xu4sympathy, pity; comfort
欰
烅
衂
衃
衆zhong4multitude, crowd; the public
衇
衊mie4to smear, to slander; to defile
賉
Words Containing This Character20
血xuèblood
血液xuèyèblood
吸血鬼leech
血管xuèguǎnvein
流血liúxuèto bleed
血迹bloodstain血跡
出血chūxuèto bleed
血压xuèyāblood pressure血壓
血清serum
鲜血xiānxuèblood鮮血
高血压gāoxuèyāhypertension高血壓
血腥reeking of blood
血统lineage血統
血型blood group
止血zhǐxuèto staunch (bleeding)
血浆blood plasma血漿
心血xīnxuèheart's blood
白血病leukemia
热血hot blood熱血
贫血anemia貧血
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 恤 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 血
The classifiers for 血 (xuè) are 滴 (dī) and 片 (piàn). 滴 is used for drops of blood, while 片 can refer to slices or pieces related to blood contexts.
The colloquial pronunciation of 血 is [xie3]. This pronunciation is often used in casual conversation, although the standard pronunciation is [xiě].
You can use 血 (xuè) in sentences like '我的手流血了' (Wǒ de shǒu liú xuè le), which means 'My hand is bleeding.' It can also appear in compound words, such as 血液 (xuè yè), meaning 'blood liquid.'
血 (xuè) means 'blood' in Chinese. It can refer to the fluid that circulates in the bodies of humans and animals, and it is also used in various idiomatic expressions and medical contexts.
The correct pronunciation is [xuè], not [xiě].
Yes, it can be used in both medical contexts and idiomatic expressions, but be mindful of the context.
Common phrases include 血压 (blood pressure) and 血液 (blood fluid).
