血管

• Pinyin: xuè guǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 血 = pictograph of a sacrificial vessel with blood; 管 = 竹 (bamboo) + 官 (official), meaning tube or pipe

Meaning

Blood vessel. The tubes in the body that carry blood.

A medical/anatomical term covering arteries (动脉), veins (静脉), and capillaries (毛细血管). Common phrases: 血管堵塞 (blocked blood vessel), 血管硬化 (arteriosclerosis), 心血管 (cardiovascular). Also used metaphorically for vital channels or lifelines.

Examples

1. 长期吸烟会损伤血管，增加心脏病风险。 Long-term smoking damages blood vessels and increases the risk of heart disease.
2. 护士找了半天才找到他手臂上的血管。 The nurse searched for a long time before finding a blood vessel in his arm.
3. 铁路是国家经济发展的血管。 Railways are the blood vessels of national economic development.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, health, anatomical

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 他的血管很细。(His blood vessels are very thin.)
• 注意保护心血管健康。(Pay attention to cardiovascular health.)

Don't Say

• 我的血管在流动 — 应说'血液在流动'，血管是管道本身，不能流动

Origin & History

Compound of 血 (blood) + 管 (tube, pipe). A straightforward anatomical term.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal