腺

• Pinyin: xiàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 月 = 肉 (flesh/body radical); 泉 = 白 + 水 (clear water from a spring)

Meaning

Gland; an organ in the body that produces and secretes specific substances.

Used exclusively in medical and biological contexts. Appears in compounds such as 汗腺 (sweat gland), 甲状腺 (thyroid gland), 淋巴腺 (lymph gland), and 前列腺 (prostate gland).

Examples

1. 医生检查后发现他的甲状腺出现了轻微异常，建议进一步检查。 After the examination, the doctor found a mild abnormality in his thyroid and recommended further tests.
2. 汗腺通过分泌汗液来帮助人体调节核心体温。 Sweat glands help the body regulate its core temperature by secreting sweat.
3. 淋巴腺肿大往往是机体出现感染或其他病变的重要信号。 Swollen lymph nodes are often an important sign of infection or other underlying problems.

Usage Guide

Context: medicine, biology, health

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 前列腺的定期检查对中老年男性的健康维护尤为重要。(Regular examination of the prostate is particularly important for maintaining the health of middle-aged and elderly men.)
• 唾液腺持续分泌唾液，对于辅助消化和维护口腔健康至关重要。(Salivary glands continuously secrete saliva, which is essential for aiding digestion and maintaining oral health.)

Don't Say

• 我的腺不舒服 — always specify which gland in clinical communication; 腺 alone is too vague to be medically meaningful

Origin & History

月 (肉, flesh/body radical) + 泉 (spring/source) — a bodily organ that produces fluid like a natural spring

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal