血
blood
Readings
On'yomi
- ケツ
Kun'yomi
- ち
Meaning
血 centers on blood as the vital fluid of life, covering its literal sense and its symbolic use for lineage or deep connection.
Most common words using 血
23 of 558- 血ちN4
blood
- 血液けつえきN3
blood
- 出血しゅっけつN1
bleeding; haemorrhage; hemorrhage
- 血管けっかんN2
blood vessel; vein
- 吸血鬼きゅうけつき
vampire; bloodsucker
- 血圧けつあつN2
blood pressure
- 血糖けっとう
blood sugar
- 鼻血はなぢ
nosebleed
- 貧血ひんけつN1
anemia; anaemia
- 白血病はっけつびょう
leukemia; leukaemia
- 流血りゅうけつ
bloodshed
- 献血けんけつN1
blood donation
- 血縁けつえんN1
blood relationship; consanguinity
- 輸血ゆけつN2
blood transfusion
- 混血こんけつN1
mixed race; mixed parentage
- 白血球はっけっきゅう
white blood cell; leukocyte; leucocyte
- 高血圧こうけつあつN2
high blood pressure; hypertension
- 血痕けっこん
bloodstain
- 脳出血のうしゅっけつ
cerebral hemorrhage; cerebral haemorrhage
- 血友病けつゆうびょう
hemophilia; haemophilia
- 血液型けつえきがたN3
blood type; blood group
- 内出血ないしゅっけつ
internal bleeding; internal haemorrhage; internal hemorrhage
- 血液検査けつえきけんさ
blood test; hemanalysis
Study
Etymology
血 is a pictograph of a ritual vessel with a drop of blood inside, representing blood as a sacred substance. The modern form retains the vessel 皿 and a small top stroke suggesting the blood drop.
Meaning mnemonic
The bottom 皿 is a dish, and the small stroke on top is a drop of blood. Imagine a dish collecting a single drop of blood, making the meaning clear.
Reading mnemonic
For ケツ, picture a medical test where you get your blood checked: the nurse says 'Kets' as a short, sharp sound when drawing blood, like 'kets' -> ケツ.