also: よんたいえき
four humors; cardinal humors
Historical term from ancient and medieval medicine, referring to blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Used in discussions of Galenic theory or historical texts.
The theory of the four humors is one of the medical theories of ancient Greece.
In medieval Europe, it was believed that the balance of the four humors determined health.
Standard kanji form; the reading したいえき is the most natural for this compound.
Alternate reading; less common than したいえき. Included for recognition.
Compound of 四 (four) and 体液 (body fluids). The term is a direct translation of the Western concept of the four humors, likely coined in the context of medical history.