腠理

còu lǐ

The interstices · cou li

Also rendered: The interstices (this site; the classical rendering, with cou li shown at the headword) · The skin's grain (plainer, but loses that 腠理 is a place things pass through)

Reviewed · 2026-09

At a glance

Pinyin
còu lǐ
Simplified
腠理
Literal
腠理 còu lǐ — the interstices: the seams and grain of the body's surface, where skin meets flesh and where things pass through. The pair is one of the Suwen's ordinary anatomical words, and chapter 39 uses it exactly as the rest of the book does, but in the tightest possible space: two sentences, set side by side, one for cold and one for heat. 寒則腠理閉 — cold closes the interstices, the qi cannot move, and so the qi is drawn in. 炅則腠理開 — heat opens them, the bloom and the defence pass freely, sweat pours out, and so the qi is let out. Everything the chapter says about the surface is said in those two lines, and they are the sixth and seventh of the nine qi.
Shuowen
《說文解字》無「腠」字,**其本字為「湊」**:**《說文》「湊,水上人所會也」——**本義為會聚**;**「腠」从肉,謂膚肉文理相湊之處**。**《說文解字》:理,治玉也**——**本義為治玉,引申為文理、分理**。「腠」讀 còu、「理」讀 lǐ,**二字本篇各2見、2見**,**皆在「腠理」一詞之中,本篇別無單用**。**「閉」(「閉」讀 bì)與「開」(「開」讀 kāi)相對**:**寒則閉、炅則開**——**閉則氣不行而收,開則汗大泄而泄**,**一篇之大旨,於此二字見之**。

In brief

The seams and grain of the body’s surface. Chapter 39 gives the pair its standard behaviour in two lines: cold closes it and the qi is drawn in, heat opens it and sweat lets the qi out.

Senses in the classical corpus

1
What the graphs say 腠理
腠从肉从湊,膚肉相湊之處;理,文理也;腠理者,身表之分際
寒則腠理閉 — Suwen 39
2
What cold does 閉
寒則腠理閉,氣不行,故氣收
寒則腠理閉 — Suwen 39
3
What heat does 開
炅則腠理開,榮衛通,汗大泄
炅則腠理開 — Suwen 39
4
Closing and the qi 氣收
閉則氣不得行,故氣收
故氣收矣 — Suwen 39
5
Opening and the qi 氣泄
開則汗大泄,氣隨汗出
故氣泄 — Suwen 39
6
The pair 閉 / 開
寒炅之二氣,即於腠理之閉開見其用
炅則腠理開,榮衛通,汗大泄,故氣泄 — Suwen 39

Occurrences in the classics

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

Display
8 passages
Suwen 39 Suwen 39 · 舉痛論 Read in context →
寒則腠理閉,氣不行,故氣收矣。炅則腠理開,榮衛通,汗大泄,故氣泄。 寒则腠理闭,气不行,故气收矣。炅则腠理开,荣卫通,汗大泄,故气泄。
Hán zé còu lǐ bì, qì bù xíng, gù qì shōu yǐ.Jiǒng zé còu lǐ kāi, róng wèi tōng, hàn dà xiè, gù qì xiè.
Cold shuts the interstices of the skin so that the qi does not move — hence qi is drawn inward. Heat opens the interstices, the constructive and defensive flow freely, sweat pours out — hence qi leaks away.
**「寒則腠理閉,氣不行,故氣收矣。炅則腠理開,榮衛通,汗大泄,故氣泄」兩條相連,是九氣中惟一以對句成文者**——**寒與炅對、閉與開對、收與泄對**,**而「榮衛」二字為其樞**:**閉則榮衛不散(第三十六條),開則榮衛通**。**「榮」(「榮」讀 róng)本篇3見,皆在「榮衛」一詞中,全篇無「營」(「營」)字**——**榮衛即後世之營衛,本篇从底本作「榮」。****「泄」(「泄」讀 xiè)本篇7見,不作「洩」(「洩」)**。**「腠理」二字連文,本篇2見**。
素問·風論 Suwen 42 · 風論 Read in context →
風者善行而數變,腠理開則洒然寒,閉則熱而悶。 风者善行而数变,腠理开则洒然寒,闭则热而闷。
Fēng zhě shàn xíng ér shuò biàn, còu lǐ kāi zé xiǎn rán hán, bì zé rè ér mèn.
Wind moves readily and changes often. When the interstices open there is a sudden chill; when they close there is heat and oppression.
「腠理開則洒然寒,閉則熱而悶」——**本篇「腠理」2見**:**一在此條,一在「外在腠理,則爲泄風」**;**開則寒、閉則熱**——**與第三十九篇「寒則腠理閉、熱則腠理開」同一機括**。「洒」讀 xiǎn**「洒然」讀 xiǎn rán,寒貌**;「悶」讀 mèn**「悶」讀 mèn,不爽貌**;「閉」讀 bì、「開」讀 kāi**開閉二字對舉**。
素問·刺要論 Suwen 50 · 刺要論 Read in context →
是故刺毫毛腠理無傷皮,皮傷則内動肺,肺動則秋病温瘧,泝泝然寒慄。 是故刺毫毛腠理无伤皮,皮伤则内动肺,肺动则秋病温疟,泝泝然寒栗。
Shì gù cì háo máo còu lǐ wú shāng pí, pí shāng zé nèi dòng fèi, fèi dòng zé qiū bìng wēn nüè, sù sù rán hán lì.
Therefore when needling the down and the interstices do not wound the skin. If the skin is wounded the lung is stirred within, and once the lung is stirred there is warm malaria in autumn, shivering and shuddering with cold.
「刺毫毛「腠」讀 còu「理」讀 lǐ無傷皮」——**本篇「毫毛腠理」2見**;「毫」讀 háo、「毛」讀 máo、**各本篇2見、2見,皆在「毫毛」一語**;「皮」讀 pí、**本篇4見,此刺毫毛者之不可傷者**;**七層之中,毫毛腠理為最外,皮次之,故曰刺毫毛腠理無傷皮**。
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」讀 còu「理」讀 lǐ開,開則入客於絡脉」——**本篇「腠理」3見,讀 còu lǐ**;**三見皆在邪之出入處**:**「邪中之則腠理開」(中於皮則開)、「泝然起毫毛,開腠理」(邪初入皮)、「邪客於皮,則腠理開」(答十二部之病而重言之)**;**本目「寒則閉,熱則開」;本篇則言其開:開則邪入客於絡脉,是百病由皮入絡之門**
素問·調經論 Suwen 62 · 調經論 Read in context →
歧伯曰:按摩勿釋,出鍼視之曰,我將深之,適人必革,精氣自伏,邪氣散亂,無所休息,氣泄腠理,真氣乃相得。 歧伯曰:按摩勿释,出针视之曰,我将深之,适人必革,精气自伏,邪气散乱,无所休息,气泄腠理,真气乃相得。
Qí bó yuē: àn mó wù shì, chū zhēn shì zhī yuē, wǒ jiāng shēn zhī, shì rén bì gé, jīng qì zì fú, xié qì sàn luàn, wú suǒ xiū xī, qì xiè còu lǐ, zhēn qì nǎi xiāng dé.
Qi Bo says: massage without letting go. As you bring the needle out, look at it and say: I am going to go deeper. When the needle reaches the man he will surely change countenance; the essence qi submits of itself, the evil qi scatters in confusion and has nowhere to rest, and leaks out through the interstices. Then the true qi and the body are at one again.
「精氣自伏,邪氣散亂,無所休息,氣泄腠理,真氣乃相得」——**「腠理」本篇2見**:**一在刺氣之微:氣泄腠理,真氣乃相得**;**一在陽盛生外熱:上焦不通利則皮膚緻密、腠理閉塞**;**「分腠」本篇1見(血氣與邪并客於分腠之閒)**;**「腠」讀 còu、「理」讀 lǐ**
素問·四時刺逆從論 Suwen 64 · 四時刺逆從論 Read in context →
秋者,天氣始收,腠理閉塞,皮膚引急。 秋者,天气始收,腠理闭塞,皮肤引急。
Qiū zhě, tiān qì shǐ shōu, còu lǐ bì sè, pí fū yǐn jí.
In autumn the qi of heaven begins to draw in; the interstices shut and are blocked, and the skin draws taut.
「秋者,天氣始收,腠理閉塞,皮膚引急」——**「腠理」本篇1見,讀 còu lǐ**;**秋氣始收則腠理閉塞而皮膚引急,此秋氣在皮膚之故**;**「塞」讀 sè,「閉」讀 bì**
素問·生氣通天論 Suwen 3 · 生氣通天論 Read in context →
是故謹和五味,骨正筋柔,氣血以流,湊理以密,如是則骨氣以精。謹道如法,長有天命。 是故谨和五味,骨正筋柔,气血以流,凑理以密,如是则骨气以精。谨道如法,长有天命。
Shì gù jǐn hé wǔ wèi, gǔ zhèng jīn róu, qì xuè yǐ liú, còu lǐ yǐ mì, rú shì zé gǔ qì yǐ jīng. jǐn dào rú fǎ, zhǎng yǒu tiān mìng.
So when one is careful to harmonise the five flavours, the bones are upright and the sinews supple, the qi and blood flow freely, and the crevices are closed; then the qi of the bones is at its finest. Guard the dao and follow the rule, and the mandate of heaven will long be yours.
「湊理以密」——底本作湊,與腠同,讀 còu;謹和五味,則骨正筋柔、氣血以流、湊理以密;上文「肉腠閉拒」「留連肉腠」則作腠;**「湊理」本篇1見**
素問·陰陽應象大論 Suwen 5 · 陰陽應象大論 Read in context →
故清陽爲天,濁陰爲地。地氣上爲雲,天氣下爲雨,雨出地氣,雲出天氣。故清陽出上竅,濁陰出下竅。清陽發腠理,濁陰走五藏;清陽實四支,濁陰歸六府。 故清阳为天,浊阴为地。地气上为云,天气下为雨,雨出地气,云出天气。故清阳出上窍,浊阴出下窍。清阳发腠理,浊阴走五藏;清阳实四支,浊阴归六府。
gù qīng yáng wéi tiān, zhuó yīn wéi dì. dì qì shàng wéi yún, tiān qì xià wéi yǔ, yǔ chū dì qì, yún chū tiān qì. gù qīng yáng chū shàng qiào, zhuó yīn chū xià qiào. qīng yáng fā còu lǐ, zhuó yīn zǒu wǔ zàng; qīng yáng shí sì zhī, zhuó yīn guī liù fǔ.
Thus clear yang is heaven and turbid yin is earth. Earth qi rising becomes cloud; heaven qi descending becomes rain. Rain issues from earth qi, cloud from heaven qi. Therefore clear yang exits by the upper orifices, turbid yin by the lower orifices. Clear yang spreads through the interstices, turbid yin travels to the five viscera; clear yang fills the four limbs, turbid yin returns to the six bowels.
「清陽發腠理」——清陽開發腠理,濁陰走於五藏;**「腠理」本篇2見**

Compounds built on this term

寒則腠理閉
hán zé còu lǐ bì
cold closes the interstices
九氣之第六,氣收之由
炅則腠理開
jiǒng zé còu lǐ kāi
heat opens the interstices
九氣之第七,氣泄之由
榮衛通
róng wèi tōng
the bloom and the defence pass freely
本篇「榮」不作「營」
汗大泄
hàn dà xiè
sweat pours out
汗讀 hàn,泄讀 xiè

How it has been translated

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

This sitethe intersticeskept because the word is standard in the English literature and the pinyin is shown once
Unschuldthe skin's structuresrenders 腠理 descriptively rather than with the classical term
Wisemanthe intersticesthe same; Wiseman pairs it with 分理, the partings of the flesh

Entry status

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2026-09

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