vein · pulse

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 脈 is read みゃく, has 10 strokes, and appears in words for a pulse, vein, or connected network.
• Basic usage: 脈 is read みゃく, and 人脈 is read じんみゃく.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 脈 and 人脈
  • 脈 means pulse or vein.
  • 医師は患者の手首に触れて脈を確かめました。 means “The doctor felt the patient's wrist to check their pulse.”
  • 人脈 means personal network or connections.
  • 前の仕事で築いた人脈が新しい活動に役立った。 means “Connections I made at my previous workplace helped with my new activities.”