比類简体比类

bǐ lèi

The matching of kinds · bi lei

Also rendered: The matching of kinds (this site; 比 is placing side by side, not comparing in the abstract) · Analogical reasoning (clear, and it is a modern term the chapter never uses)

Core vocabulary

Reviewed · 2026-10-17

At a glance

Pinyin: bǐ lèi
Simplified: 比类
Literal: 比 bǐ — to set side by side; 類 lèi — kind. To match kinds is not to compare in the abstract but to lay a case beside the cases it belongs with, so that what is common shows and what is not stands out.
Shuowen: 《說文》：比，密也；類，種類相似。張介賓云「比類者，比異別類以測病情也」，最得此篇之旨。「比類」本篇6見：及於比類、别異比類、以知其比類也、援物比類、不引比類、明引比類從容；「類」字7見，「比」字6見，皆在此六處。

In brief

To match kinds is the chapter’s working method, and it is set against mere recitation. Lei Gong can recite the Canon of the Pulse, upper and lower chapters, and still cannot 别異比類, tell differences apart and match kinds. Huang Di’s rebuke is that a physician who does not 引比類 has knowledge that is not clear — 不引比類，是知不明也 — and the sage, by contrast, 循法守度，援物比類，化之冥冥. The method is named six times and comes to rest at the very end of the chapter, joined to the Congrong: 明引比類從容, to draw plainly on the matching of kinds and the Congrong, is what the chapter calls 診輕.

Senses in the classical corpus

Setting like beside like 比類

比，並也；類，種也

Bi means to set side by side; lei means a kind.

及於比類 — 素問·示從容論

What Lei Gong cannot do 别異比類

辨異而後比類

One first distinguishes differences, then compares and classifies.

别異比類 — 素問·示從容論

The question put to the three viscera 以知其比類也

借三藏之例以相比類

Using the three viscera as a case for comparison.

以知其比類也 — 素問·示從容論

What the sage does 援物比類

援引物類以相比況

Drawing on kinds of things to make a comparison.

援物比類 — 素問·示從容論

What failure looks like 不引比類，是知不明也

不引比類則所知不明

Without invoking comparison, what one knows stays unclear.

不引比類 — 素問·示從容論

Joined with the Congrong 明引比類從容

二者並舉，為診法之全

The two taken together make diagnosis complete.

明引比類從容 — 素問·示從容論

Occurrences in the classics

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

Display

3 passages

素問·示從容論 Read in context →

夫聖人之治病，循法守度，援物比類，化之冥冥，循上及下，何必守經？夫圣人之治病，循法守度，援物比类，化之冥冥，循上及下，何必守经？

Fú shèng rén zhī zhì bìng, xún fǎ shǒu dù, yuán wù bǐ lèi, huà zhī míng míng, xún shàng jí xià, hé bì shǒu jīng?

When the sage treats illness, he follows the law and keeps the measure, draws on things and matches kinds, and works his transformation in the dark of the dark; he traces from above down to below — why must he keep to one canon?

「比類」本篇6見，此為第四見；「援物比類」與「循法守度」「化之冥冥」並列，為聖人治病之法；篇末「明引比類從容」以之收束全篇；雷公自言「别異比類，猶未能以十全」，正與此相對

素問·疏五過論 Read in context →

善爲脉者，必以比類奇恒，從容知之，爲工而不知道，此診之不足貴，此治之三過也。善为脉者，必以比类奇恒，从容知之，为工而不知道，此诊之不足贵，此治之三过也。

Shàn wéi mài zhě, bì yǐ bǐ lèi qí héng, cóng róng zhī zhī, wéi gōng ér bù zhī dào, cǐ zhěn zhī bù zú guì, cǐ zhì zhī sān guò yě.

One who is skilled at the pulse must know it through the matching of kinds and the extraordinary and the constant, through the Congrong; to be a craftsman and not know the way — such diagnosis is not worth prizing, and this is the third error of treatment.

「比類」本篇2見，一在「比類形名」，一在「必以比類奇恒」；此段「必以比類奇恒，從容知之」，比類與奇恒、從容三者並舉；不善比類則診不足貴，故為三過

素問·徴四失論 Read in context →

不適貧富貴賤之居，坐之薄厚，形之寒温，不適飲食之宜，不别人之勇怯，不知比類，足以自亂，不足以自明，此治之三失也。不适贫富贵贱之居，坐之薄厚，形之寒温，不适饮食之宜，不别人之勇怯，不知比类，足以自乱，不足以自明，此治之三失也。

Bù shì pín fù guì jiàn zhī jū, zuò zhī bó hòu, xíng zhī hán wēn, bù shì yǐn shí zhī yí, bù bié rén zhī yǒng qiè, bù zhī bǐ lèi, zú yǐ zì luàn, bù zú yǐ zì míng, cǐ zhì zhī sān shī yě.

Not to take account of whether the patient’s dwelling suits poverty or wealth, high or low station, of whether his seat is thin or thick, of whether his form is cold or warm; not to suit his food and drink; not to distinguish the bold from the timid; not to know the matching of kinds — this is enough to throw oneself into confusion and not enough to see clearly. This is the third failure of treatment.

「比類」本篇1見，止此一見；此段「不知比類，足以自亂，不足以自明」，為三失之斷語；比類者，比其類而後明，不知則自亂

Compounds built on this term

别異比類

bié yì bǐ lèi

telling differences apart and matching kinds

本篇一見；雷公自謂未能

援物比類

yuán wù bǐ lèi

drawing on things and matching kinds

本篇一見；聖人之法

不引比類

bù yǐn bǐ lèi

not drawing the matching of kinds

本篇一見；知不明之由

比類從容

bǐ lèi cóng róng

matching kinds and the Congrong

篇末連言

How it has been translated

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

This site	the matching of kinds	setting a case beside its kind so the difference shows
Literal	comparing kinds	exact, and it sounds like a taxonomy rather than a diagnosis
Descriptive	reasoning from like to like	clear, and it loses the 類 the chapter repeats

Entry status

Review pending — who reviews this?

2026-10-17

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