絡脉 简体 络脉

luò mài

Connecting vessel · luo mai

Also rendered: network vessel (Too literal to 糸; the text means the branch, not the mesh) · collateral (Accurate and widely used, but Latin where the Chinese is plain)

Reviewed · 2026-09

At a glance

Pinyin
luò mài
Simplified
络脉
Literal
絡 luò, a net, that which connects — the graph has 糸, silk, in it; 脉 mài, the vessel, written by this base text as 脉 and not 脈. The connecting vessels are what branch off the main channels, and this chapter draws a distinction from them that is easy to miss: disease in them is slight, and that is why the patient rises and rests as usual while the breathing can be heard.
Shuowen
《說文解字》:絡,絮也,从糸,各聲——引申為網絡、為聯屬。「絡」讀 luò,本篇 3 見(絡脉×3)——**从糸从各,不作「络」(「络」)**;「脉」讀 mài,本篇 4 見——**底本作「脉」,不作「脈」(「脈」)**,與第三十三篇之作「脉」者同例。「此」讀 cǐ,本篇 2 見;「肺」讀 fèi,本篇惟此一見;「之」讀 zhī;「逆」讀 nì;「也」讀 yě;「不」讀 bù;「得」讀 dé;「隨」讀 suí,本篇惟此一見,不作「随」(「随」);「經」讀 jīng,本篇 3 見;「上」讀 shàng,本篇 2 見;「下」讀 xià,本篇 4 見;「故」讀 gù;「留」讀 liú,本篇惟此一見;「而」讀 ér;「行」讀 xíng;「病」讀 bìng;「人」讀 rén;「微」讀 wēi,本篇惟此一見。**「絡脉」三見,皆在本篇之末一問**:絡者經之支,脉者血之府;**絡病則微,經病則深**。**「不得隨經上下」六字是絡脉之病機**:絡當隨經而往來,今不得隨,則「留經而不行」。**本篇以「絡脉之病人也微」釋「起居如故」**——絡病不病人之起居,而但病人之呼吸,**是《素問》辨經絡淺深最明之一例**。

In brief

The vessels that branch from the channels. The chapter uses them to explain one of its six kinds of sleeplessness: when the lung’s connecting vessels turn counter and cannot follow the channels up and down, they lodge in the channel, but because disease of the connecting vessels is slight, the person rises and rests as usual and only the breathing gives it away.

Senses in the classical corpus

1
The lung's connecting vessels 此肺之絡脉逆也
絡脉逆,則氣不隨經
此肺之絡脉逆也 — Suwen 34
2
What they should do 絡脉不得隨經上下
絡當隨經而往來
絡脉不得隨經上下 — Suwen 34
3
What happens instead 故留經而不行
不得隨經,則留而不行
故留經而不行 — Suwen 34
4
Why life goes on as usual 絡脉之病人也微
絡病輕,故起居不為之變
絡脉之病人也微 — Suwen 34
5
The sign that remains 而息有音也
絡病但見於呼吸
故起居如故,而息有音也 — Suwen 34
6
Against the main channel 是陽明之逆也
陽明是經,肺絡是絡,深淺有別
是陽明之逆也 — Suwen 34

Occurrences in the classics

Passages where the term does real work, with the original, pinyin and English on the same line.

Display
14 passages
素問·逆調論 Suwen 34 · 逆調論 Read in context →
夫起居如故,而息有音者,此肺之絡脉逆也,絡脉不得隨經上下,故留經而不行。 夫起居如故,而息有音者,此肺之络脉逆也,络脉不得随经上下,故留经而不行。
Fú qǐ jū rú gù, ér xī yǒu yīn zhě, cǐ fèi zhī luò mài nì yě, luò mài bù dé suí jīng shàng xià, gù liú jīng ér bù xíng.
As for rising and resting as usual yet breathing audibly: this is counterflow in the connecting vessels of the lung. The connecting vessels cannot follow the channels up and down, so they lodge in the channel and do not move.
末問第二答。「夫」讀 fú,本篇 3 見;「起」讀 qǐ;「居」讀 jū;「如」讀 rú;「故」讀 gù;「而」讀 ér;「息」讀 xī;「有」讀 yǒu;「音」讀 yīn;「者」讀 zhě;「此」讀 cǐ;「肺」讀 fèi;「之」讀 zhī;「絡」讀 luò;「脉」讀 mài;「逆」讀 nì;「也」讀 yě;「不」讀 bù;「得」讀 dé;「隨」讀 suí;「經」讀 jīng;「上」讀 shàng;「下」讀 xià;「留」讀 liú;「行」讀 xíng。**此答與上「陽明之逆」一答相對**:陽明是胃之經,其逆則不得卧;肺之絡脉是經之支,其逆則但息有音——**一深一淺,一不得卧一起居如故**,是本篇於六類之中別其輕重之法。
素問·痿論 Suwen 44 · 痿論 Read in context →
歧伯曰:肺熱者,色白而毛敗;心熱者,色赤而絡脉溢;肝熱者,色蒼而爪枯;脾熱者,色黄而肉蠕動;腎熱者,色黑而齒槁。 歧伯曰:肺热者,色白而毛败;心热者,色赤而络脉溢;肝热者,色苍而爪枯;脾热者,色黄而肉蠕动;肾热者,色黑而齿槁。
Qí bó yuē: fèi rè zhě, sè bái ér máo bài; xīn rè zhě, sè chì ér luò mài yì; gān rè zhě, sè cāng ér zhǎo kū; pí rè zhě, sè huáng ér ròu rú dòng; shèn rè zhě, sè hēi ér chǐ gǎo.
Qi Bo replies: with lung heat the complexion is white and the hair spoils; with heart heat it is red and the connecting vessels overflow; with liver heat it is ash-grey and the nails wither; with spleen heat it is yellow and the flesh stirs and wriggles; with kidney heat it is black and the teeth are dry.
「心熱者,色赤而絡脉溢」——**本篇「絡脉」為名詞者惟此一見**(下文「絡於督脉」之絡為動詞);「脉」、**本篇12見**;「溢」讀 yì,**絡脉溢者,絡脉充溢之色**。
素問·厥論 Suwen 45 · 厥論 Read in context →
歧伯曰:酒入於胃,則絡脉滿而經脉虚,脾主爲胃行其津液者也。 歧伯曰:酒入于胃,则络脉满而经脉虚,脾主为胃行其津液者也。
Qí bó yuē: jiǔ rù yú wèi, zé luò mài mǎn ér jīng mài xū, pí zhǔ wéi wèi xíng qí jīn yè zhě yě.
Qi Bo says: when wine enters the stomach the network vessels fill and the conduit vessels empty — and the spleen is what moves the fluids on behalf of the stomach.
「絡脉滿而經脉虚」——**本篇「脉」四見**;**絡脉、經脉對舉,絡滿而經虚,為熱厥之機**;「虚」讀 xū,**虚讀 xū**。
素問·奇病論 Suwen 47 · 奇病論 Read in context →
黄帝問曰:人有重身,九月而瘖,此爲何也?歧伯對曰:胞之絡脉絶也。 黄帝问曰:人有重身,九月而瘖,此为何也?歧伯对曰:胞之络脉绝也。
Huáng dì wèn yuē: rén yǒu chóng shēn, jiǔ yuè ér yīn, cǐ wéi hé yě? Qí bó duì yuē: bāo zhī luò mài jué yě.
The Emperor asks: a woman is heavy with child and, in the ninth month, loses her voice. What is this? Qi Bo answers: the network vessels of the womb are cut off.
「胞之「絡」讀 luò「脉」讀 mài絶也」——**本篇「絡脉」1見**;「絶」讀 jué,**絶讀 jué,斷絶不續之謂**;**下文「胞絡者,繫於腎,「少」讀 shào「陰」讀 yīn之脉,貫腎繫舌本」為本篇釋此語之根據,絡脉絶故舌本失養而不能言**;「胞」讀 bāo,**胞讀 bāo,此指女子之胞,與本站第四十篇同例**。
素問·長刺節論 Suwen 55 · 長刺節論 Read in context →
病風,且寒且熱,炅汗出,一日數過,先刺諸分,理絡脉,汗出且寒且熱,三日一刺,百日而已。 病风,且寒且热,炅汗出,一日数过,先刺诸分,理络脉,汗出且寒且热,三日一刺,百日而已。
Bìng fēng, qiě hán qiě rè, jiǒng hàn chū, yī rì shuò guò, xiān cì zhū fēn, lǐ luò mài, hàn chū qiě hán qiě rè, sān rì yī cì, bǎi rì ér yǐ.
In wind illness, by turns cold and hot, with blazing sweating several times a day, first needle the various partings and put the network vessels in order. If sweating persists and the alternation of cold and heat with it, needle once every three days, and in a hundred days the illness is finished.
「先刺諸分,理「絡」讀 luò「脉」讀 mài」——**本篇「絡脉」1見,讀 luò mài**;**本篇言絡脉者一見,在風病之治:先刺諸分,理絡脉,汗出而寒熱不止者,三日一刺,百日而已**;**與第三十四篇以絡脉釋不寐者同實:絡脉者,經脉之分支**
素問·皮部論 Suwen 56 · 皮部論 Read in context →
邪中之則腠理開,開則入客於絡脉,留而不去,傳入於經,留而不去,傳入於府,廩於腸胃。 邪中之则腠理开,开则入客于络脉,留而不去,传入于经,留而不去,传入于府,廪于肠胃。
Xié zhòng zhī zé còu lǐ kāi, kāi zé rù kè yú luò mài, liú ér bù qù, chuán rù yú jīng, liú ér bù qù, chuán rù yú fǔ, lǐn yú cháng wèi.
When the evil strikes it, the interstices open; once open, the evil goes in and lodges in the network vessels. Lingering there and not leaving, it is transmitted into the conduit; lingering there and not leaving, it is transmitted into the palace, and gathers in the stomach and intestines.
「邪中之則腠理開,開則入客於「絡」讀 luò「脉」讀 mài,留而不去,傳入於經,留而不去,傳入於府,廩於腸胃」——**本篇「絡脉」5見,讀 luò mài**;**五見分屬三處**:**「開則入客於絡脉」(邪由皮入絡)、「則絡脉盛,色變」(邪已入絡)、「絡脉滿則注於經脉」(由絡入經)**,**另「邪入客於絡脉」一見、「凡十二經絡脉者」一見**;**與第三十四篇以絡脉釋不寐者同實:絡脉者,經脉之分支**;**本篇絡脉為傳變之一級,居皮與經之間**;「留」讀 liú、**「留而不去」之留讀 liú,本篇3見**;「傳」讀 chuán、**「傳入於經」之傳讀 chuán,本篇2見**
素問·經絡論 Suwen 57 · 經絡論 Read in context →
黄帝問曰:夫絡脉之見也,其五色各異,青黄赤白黑不同,其故何也? 黄帝问曰:夫络脉之见也,其五色各异,青黄赤白黑不同,其故何也?
Huáng dì wèn yuē: fú luò mài zhī jiàn yě, qí wǔ sè gè yì, qīng huáng chì bái hēi bù tóng, qí gù hé yě?
The Emperor asks: the network vessels as they are seen — their five colours are each different, blue-green, yellow, red, white and black are not alike. Why is it so?
「黄帝問曰:夫「絡」讀 luò「脉」讀 mài之見也,其五色各異,青黄赤白黑不同,其故何也?」——**本篇「絡脉」1見,讀 luò mài**;**即開篇第一問之首二字:此篇所問者,正是絡脉之色**;**與第三十四篇以絡脉釋不寐者同實:絡脉者,經脉之分支**;**本篇進一解:絡脉分陰陽——深者在内而應其經,淺者浮顯而隨四時**;**本篇「絡」字5見、「脉」字2見**;「見」讀 jiàn、**「絡脉之見」之見讀 jiàn,本篇2見**;「夫」讀 fú、**發語辭,讀 fú,本篇1見**
素問·氣穴論 Suwen 58 · 氣穴論 Read in context →
歧伯曰:孫絡之脉别經者,其血盛而當冩者,亦三百六十五脉,並注於絡,傳注十二絡脉,非獨十四絡脉也,内解冩於中者十脉。 歧伯曰:孙络之脉别经者,其血盛而当写者,亦三百六十五脉,并注于络,传注十二络脉,非独十四络脉也,内解写于中者十脉。
Qí bó yuē: sūn luò zhī mài bié jīng zhě, qí xuè shèng ér dāng xiè zhě, yì sān bǎi liù shí wǔ mài, bìng zhù yú luò, chuán zhù shí èr luò mài, fēi dú shí sì luò mài yě, nèi jiě xiè yú zhōng zhě shí mài.
Qi Bo says: the grandchild vessels that branch off from the conduits, where the blood is full and should be drained, are also three hundred and sixty-five vessels. All of them pour into the network and pass on into the twelve network vessels — it is not only the fourteen network vessels. Ten of them resolve inwardly and are drained from within.
「歧伯曰:孫絡之脉别經者,其血盛而當冩者,亦三百六十五脉,並注於絡,傳注十二「絡」讀 luò「脉」讀 mài,非獨十四絡脉也,内解冩於中者十脉。」——**本篇「絡脉」2見,讀 luò mài**;**十二絡脉之外別有十四之說,本篇曰「非獨十四絡脉也」——總歸於十脉之解**;**本目第三十四篇所立:絡脉者,經脉之分支,本篇正用此義**;**本篇層次最明:孫絡注絡,絡注十二絡脉,十二絡脉復注於中**;「脉」讀 mài、**本篇「脉」9見,本站一律作脉不作脈**;「冩」讀 xiè、**本篇「冩」4見,皆讀 xiè;來稿別有寫字三見,已併改从底本之冩**
素問·水熱穴論 Suwen 61 · 水熱穴論 Read in context →
歧伯曰:春者木始治,肝氣始生。肝氣急,其風疾,經脉常深,其氣少,不能深入,故取絡脉分肉間。 歧伯曰:春者木始治,肝气始生。肝气急,其风疾,经脉常深,其气少,不能深入,故取络脉分肉间。
Qí bó yuē: chūn zhě mù shǐ zhì, gān qì shǐ shēng. Gān qì jí, qí fēng jí, jīng mài cháng shēn, qí qì shào, bù néng shēn rù, gù qǔ luò mài fēn ròu jiān.
Qi Bo says: in spring wood begins to govern and the liver qi begins to be born. The liver qi is brisk and its wind is swift, but the channels lie deep and the qi of spring is still scant and cannot enter far. So one takes the network vessels and the partings of the flesh.
「故取「絡」讀 luò「脉」讀 mài分肉間」——**「絡脉」本篇2見,皆在春取之條**;**「絡」讀 luò;「脉」底本从「脉」,本篇8見,全站不从「脈」**;**春者木始治,肝氣始生而氣少不能深入,故取絡脉分肉之間**
素問·調經論 Suwen 62 · 調經論 Read in context →
歧伯曰:風雨之傷人也,先客於皮膚,傳入於孫脉,孫脉滿則傳入於絡脉,絡脉滿則輸於大經脉。血氣與邪并客於分腠之閒,其脉堅大,故曰實。實者外堅充滿,不可按之,按之則痛。 歧伯曰:风雨之伤人也,先客于皮肤,传入于孙脉,孙脉满则传入于络脉,络脉满则输于大经脉。血气与邪并客于分腠之间,其脉坚大,故曰实。实者外坚充满,不可按之,按之则痛。
Qí bó yuē: fēng yǔ zhī shāng rén yě, xiān kè yú pí fū, chuán rù yú sūn mài, sūn mài mǎn zé chuán rù yú luò mài, luò mài mǎn zé shū yú dà jīng mài. Xuè qì yǔ xié bìng kè yú fēn còu zhī jiān, qí mài jiān dà, gù yuē shí. Shí zhě wài jiān chōng mǎn, bù kě àn zhī, àn zhī zé tòng.
Qi Bo says: when wind and rain wound a man they lodge first in the skin, and pass on into the grandchild vessels; when those are full they pass on into the network vessels; when those are full they pour into the great channels. Blood and qi together with the evil lodge in the partings and interstices; the vessel is hard and large, and hence the name, excess. In excess the outside is hard and full: it cannot be pressed, and pressing it hurts.
「孫脉滿則傳入於絡脉,絡脉滿則輸於大經脉」——**「絡脉」本篇2見,皆在傳變之序中**:**孫脉→絡脉→大經脉,是邪自外入内之三層**;**「病在血,調之絡」,是絡為血之所居**;**底本「絡脉」从「脉」,不从「脈」,與本目字形異而實同**
素問·繆刺論 Suwen 63 · 繆刺論 Read in context →
歧伯曰:邪客於經,左盛則右病,右盛則左病,亦有移易者,左痛未已,而右脉先病,如此者,必巨刺之,必中其經,非絡脉也。故絡病者,其痛與經脉繆處,故命曰繆刺。 歧伯曰:邪客于经,左盛则右病,右盛则左病,亦有移易者,左痛未已,而右脉先病,如此者,必巨刺之,必中其经,非络脉也。故络病者,其痛与经脉缪处,故命曰缪刺。
Qí bó yuē: xié kè yú jīng, zuǒ shèng zé yòu bìng, yòu shèng zé zuǒ bìng, yì yǒu yí yì zhě, zuǒ tòng wèi yǐ, ér yòu mài xiān bìng, rú cǐ zhě, bì jù cì zhī, bì zhòng qí jīng, fēi luò mài yě. Gù luò bìng zhě, qí tòng yǔ jīng mài miù chù, gù mìng yuē miù cì.
Qi Bo says: When evil lodges in the channels, a full left makes the right diseased and a full right makes the left diseased. There are also cases that shift, where the pain on the left has not yet ended and the vessel on the right is already affected. In such a case one must use the great puncture, and one must hit the channel itself, not the network. As for disease of the network, its pain lies at a place that crosses the channel rather than following it, and that is why it is named contralateral puncture.
「必巨刺之,必中其經,非絡脉也。故絡病者,其痛與經脉繆處,故命曰繆刺」——**「絡脉」本篇2見,皆與「經脉」對舉**:**邪之入也,皮毛→孫脉→絡脉→經脉→内連五藏,絡在經之外而淺於經**;**本篇之別全在經絡二層:巨刺中其經而非絡脉,繆刺則刺其絡**;**「絡」本篇23見、「經」13見**;**「脉」讀 mài,底本从「脉」,不从「脈」,本篇「脉」18見而無「脈」字**
素問·四時刺逆從論 Suwen 64 · 四時刺逆從論 Read in context →
歧伯曰:春刺絡脉,血氣外溢,令人少氣; 歧伯曰:春刺络脉,血气外溢,令人少气;
Qí bó yuē: chūn cì luò mài, xuè qì wài yì, lìng rén shǎo qì;
Qi Bo says: to needle the network vessels in spring lets the blood and qi spill outward, and leaves a person short of qi;
「春刺絡脉,血氣外溢,令人少氣」——**「絡脉」本篇3見,皆在誤刺之目中**:**春刺絡脉則血氣外溢而少氣**;**秋刺絡脉則氣不外行,令人臥不欲動**;**冬刺絡脉則內氣外泄,留為大痺**;**三見皆與四時之氣所在相反:夏氣在孫絡而春刺之,春氣在經脉而秋刺之**
素問·三部九候論 Suwen 20 · 三部九候論 Read in context →
其脉代而鈎者,病在絡脉。 其脉代而钩者,病在络脉。
Qí mài dài ér gōu zhě, bìng zài luò mài.
Where the pulse is intermittent and hooked, the disease is in the network vessels.
「其脉代而鈎者,病在絡脉」——脉代而鈎者不在經而在絡脉;下文「索其結絡脉,刺出其血」即其治;**「絡脉」本篇2見**
素問·脉要精微論 Suwen 17 · 脉要精微論 Read in context →
歧伯對曰:診法常以平旦,陰氣未動,陽氣未散,飲食未進,經脉未盛,絡脉調匀,氣血未亂,故乃可診有過之脉。 岐伯对曰:诊法常以平旦,阴气未动,阳气未散,饮食未进,经脉未盛,络脉调匀,气血未乱,故乃可诊有过之脉。
qí bó duì yuē: zhěn fǎ cháng yǐ píng dàn, yīn qì wèi dòng, yáng qì wèi sàn, yǐn shí wèi jìn, jīng mài wèi shèng, luò mài tiáo yún, qì xuè wèi luàn, gù nǎi kě zhěn yǒu guò zhī mài.
Qibo replies: Diagnosis is regularly done at dawn. The yin qi has not yet stirred, the yang qi has not yet dispersed, food and drink have not yet been taken, the conduit vessels are not yet full, the network vessels are evenly regulated, and the qi and blood are not yet disordered — therefore one can examine the pulse for what is amiss.
「絡脉調匀」,診法常以平旦,經脉未盛、絡脉調匀、氣血未亂,故乃可診有過之脉。

Compounds built on this term

絡脉
luò mài
connecting vessel
本篇三見,皆在末問
絡脉逆
luò mài nì
counterflow of the connecting vessels
肺之絡脉逆,息有音
不得隨經上下
bù dé suí jīng shàng xià
cannot follow the channels up and down
絡脉之病機
絡脉之病人也微
luò mài zhī bìng rén yě wēi
disease of the connecting vessels is slight
絡病與經病之分際

How it has been translated

Every rendering below is a decision about which reader is being addressed. There is no neutral option.

Wiseman & Fengnetwork vesselThey keep 糸 in the English, which makes the image visible and slightly overstates it.
Unschuldconnective vesselUnschuld renders the function rather than the image, which reads more naturally in a clinical sentence.
This siteconnecting vesselWe follow the function. The chapter's point depends on a contrast — connecting vessels are slight, channels are deep — and that contrast is easier to hold if the English names the relation rather than the mesh.

Entry status

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2026-09

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