静脈

• Reading: じょうみゃく
• Romaji: joumyaku
• Kanji breakdown: 静 (jou/sei/shizu) — quiet, still, calm; 脈 (myaku) — pulse, vein, blood vessel
• Pronunciation: /dʑoː.mʲa.kɯ/

Meaning

Vein. A blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart.

A noun for the blood vessels that return deoxygenated blood to the heart, contrasting with 動脈 (doumyaku, artery). Commonly encountered in medical settings during blood draws (静脈から採血する), IV drips, and when discussing circulatory conditions like 静脈瘤 (joumyakuryuu, varicose veins).

Examples

1. 看護師が静脈に針を刺して採血した。 The nurse inserted a needle into a vein to draw blood.
2. 長時間座っていると、足の静脈に血栓ができやすい。 Sitting for long periods makes blood clots more likely to form in the veins of the legs.
3. 静脈と動脈の違いを生物の授業で習った。 I learned the difference between veins and arteries in biology class.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, biology, health

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 静 (jou, quiet/still) + 脈 (myaku, pulse/vein). Literally 'the quiet pulse' — veins carry blood at lower pressure than arteries, hence the calmer flow.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal