分泌

• Pinyin: fēn mì
• Hanzi breakdown: 分 = 八 + 刀 (to separate/divide); 泌 = 氵+ 必 (water + must/essential — to secrete, to ooze a necessary fluid)

Meaning

To secrete; secretion. The biological process by which glands or cells produce and release chemical substances into or outside the body.

A primarily scientific and medical term. Used to describe hormonal secretion (激素分泌), glandular secretion (腺体分泌), and other biological fluid production. Also used in popular science writing. Common in medicine, biology, and health contexts.

Examples

1. 急性应激时，肾上腺会迅速分泌肾上腺素。 During acute stress, the adrenal glands quickly secrete adrenaline.
2. 睡眠不足会干扰皮质醇分泌节律，并抑制生长激素释放。 Insufficient sleep disrupts cortisol secretion rhythms and suppresses growth-hormone release.
3. 这种微生物能分泌特殊酶，在低温下高效催化反应。 This microorganism can secrete a special enzyme that efficiently catalyzes reactions at low temperatures.

Usage Guide

Context: medicine, biology, health, science

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 甲亢患者会过度分泌甲状腺激素，出现心悸、多汗等症状。(Patients with hyperthyroidism over-secrete thyroid hormones, causing palpitations, sweating, and other symptoms.)
• 大脑体验愉悦或成就感时会分泌多巴胺。(The brain secretes dopamine when experiencing pleasure or a sense of achievement.)

Don't Say

• 分泌 in non-biological contexts as a casual metaphor — it sounds clinical and incongruous in ordinary speech; for figurative emotional release, 释放 or 流露 are more natural choices

Origin & History

分 (to separate, to release) + 泌 (to secrete, to ooze — 氵water radical + 必 'must/essential') — to release fluid; to secrete

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal