献血

• Pinyin: xiàn xiě
• Hanzi breakdown: 献 = 鬲 + 犬 (ritual offering vessel); 血 = 皿 + 一 (blood in a vessel)

Meaning

To donate blood; to give blood voluntarily for medical or humanitarian use.

A civic and humanitarian act. Blood donation campaigns are common in Chinese cities. The term often appears in public health announcements, hospital notices, and community service drives.

Examples

1. 他坚持每年献血两次，这一习惯已经保持了十多年。 He donates blood twice a year, a habit he has kept up for more than ten years.
2. 学校组织了一次大型献血活动，吸引了数百名师生踊跃参与。 The school organized a large-scale blood drive that drew hundreds of teachers and students to take part.
3. 定期献血不会损害身体健康，反而有助于促进机体的血液新陈代谢。 Donating blood regularly does not harm your health; it can actually help promote healthy blood circulation and renewal.

Usage Guide

Context: health, civic, public service

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 无偿献血是一种崇高的人道主义精神的具体体现。(Voluntary blood donation is a concrete expression of the noble spirit of humanitarianism.)
• 他已累计献血超过三千毫升，多次获得无偿献血荣誉证书。(He has donated a cumulative total of over 3,000 millilitres of blood and received honorary certificates multiple times.)

Don't Say

• 他献血给了医院 — use 向血库献血 or 为医院捐血; 献血 as a standalone verb does not take a direct recipient without 向 or 为

Origin & History

献 (offer/dedicate) + 血 (blood) — to offer one's blood as a gift

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal