血 脈(けつみゃく)

けつみゃく

noun

bloodline; lineage; blood ties

1. bloodline; lineage; blood ties

Family descent or hereditary connection passed down through generations. Emphasizes the biological and spiritual continuity of a family line.

血脈(けつみゃく)を受(う)け継(つ)ぐ。

To carry on the bloodline.

名門(めいもん)の血脈(けつみゃく)を引(ひ)いている。

He is descended from a distinguished lineage.

家族(かぞく)の血脈(けつみゃく)は途絶(とだ)えることなく現代(げんだい)まで続(つづ)いている。

The family bloodline has continued unbroken to the present day.

2. blood vessel (literary)

A vein or artery carrying blood. A literary or classical usage, less common in modern everyday language.

全身(ぜんしん)の血脈(けつみゃく)を巡(めぐ)る。

To circulate through the blood vessels of the entire body.

東洋(とうよう)医学(いがく)では血脈(けつみゃく)の流(なが)れを重視(じゅうし)する。

In Eastern medicine, the flow through blood vessels is considered important.

鍼(はり)治療(ちりょう)は血脈(けつみゃく)の滞(とどこお)りを改善(かいぜん)すると言(い)われている。

Acupuncture is said to improve stagnation in the blood vessels.

A compound of 血(けつ) (blood) and 脈(みゃく) (vein, pulse, connection). The primary modern usage is the figurative sense of family lineage and hereditary ties. The literal "blood vessel" sense survives mainly in traditional medicine and literary contexts.

Common collocations

血脈(けつみゃく)を引(ひ)く: to be descended from, to have the blood of
血脈(けつみゃく)を受(う)け継(つ)ぐ: to inherit the bloodline
血脈(けつみゃく)が途絶(とだ)える: the bloodline dies out
血脈(けつみゃく)を守(まも)る: to preserve the bloodline

Similar words

血統(けっとう): lineage, pedigree — often used for animals (horses, dogs) as well as noble families
血筋(ちすじ): bloodline, lineage — more colloquial
家系(かけい): family line, genealogy — focuses on the family tree structure
血管(けっかん): blood vessel — the standard modern medical term (for sense 2)

Related Words

Compare: 血統(けっとう) (lineage, pedigree)

Compare: 血筋(ちすじ) (bloodline, lineage)

Compare: 家系(かけい) (family line, genealogy)

Compare: 血管(けっかん) (blood vessel)

general

Added 2026.5.6 0:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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