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Halloween offers an opportunity for us to mention such scary things as vampires. In Chinese, they are called 吸血鬼 (xīxuěguǐ), namely blood-sucking ghosts. Actually, there are quite a few other words and expressions we can learn that are related to blood.
The Chinese character for blood is 血 (xuè). It is also informally pronounced as 血 (xiě) or 血 (xuě). At the base is the character 皿 (mǐn), which means a utensil, a dish or a container. And, as you can see, there is a drop of blood that is dripping into this container.
The plasma, or 血浆 (xuèjiāng), contains 红血球 (hóngxuèqiú red blood cells) and 白血球 (báixiěqiú white blood cells). These circulate in our body via the blood vessels, or 血管 (xuèguǎn) and provide us with the vital energy the Chinese call 气 (qì). You see, we refer to vigor and courage as 血气 (xuèqì).
Blood that is rich in oxygen has a red color. Therefore, 血红色 (xuèhóng sè) is a blood-red color. Paleness inside the lower eyelids may be an indication of anemia, 贫血 (pínxuè).
输血 (shūxuè) is to transfuse blood. 捐血 (juān xuè) is to donate blood. Before conducting a blood transfusion, the health care professional will need to know the patient’s blood type, or 血型 (xuèxíng) to make sure the donated blood is compatible. Doing a blood test is called 验血 (yànxiě). Here is a link to information about blood type compatibility.
听说B型的人外向.
Tīngshuō B xíng de rén wàixiàng.
I heard that people with the B blood type are outgoing.
出血 (chūxuè) and 流血 (liúxuè) both mean to bleed, while
止血 (zhǐxuè) is to stop the bleeding.
血糖 (xuètáng) is blood sugar. 糖尿病 (tángniàobìng) is diabetes.
高血压 (gāoxuèyà) is hypertension.
他的父亲有高血压.
Tā de fùqin yǒu gāoxuèyà.
His father has high blood pressure.
血口喷人 (xuèkǒupēnrén) means to launch a malicious and unfounded verbal attack or slander on someone.
你不要血口喷人.
Nǐ bùyào xuèkǒupēnrén.
Don’t make such crazy false accusations.
血肉相联 (xuèròuxiānglián) describes a deep and strong connection, as close as flesh and blood.
杀人不见血 (shārénbùjiànxiě) is to kill without spilling blood, or to hurt people in a subtle way.
一针见血 (yīzhēnjiànxiě) means to point out the truth with a single pertinent remark.
心血来潮 (xīnxuèláicháo) means by a sudden impulse or whim.
你今天怎么心血来潮跑来看我?
Nǐ jīntiān zěnme xīnxuèláicháo pǎo lái kàn wǒ?
What wind brought you here to see me today?
血浓于水 (xuè nóng yú shuǐ) is the Chinese translation for “Blood is thicker than water.”
热血 (rèxuè) means hot blood or righteous ardor. 沸腾 (fèiténg) means boiling over. Together these form the phrase 热血沸腾 (rèxuè fèiténg), which can be used to describe a person fervently advocating for a cause. 冷血动物 (lěngxuèdòngwù) are cold-blooded animals such as insects, reptiles and fish. This term is often used to refer to an unfeeling, cold-hearted person.
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