血
chi[t͡ɕi]
The Japanese word for blood is 血 (chi). Wiktionary also lists 血液 (ketsueki).
Meaning: vital liquid flowing in human and animal bodies (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 血 | chi | [t͡ɕi] (narrow) |
| 血液 | ketsueki | [ke̞t͡sɨe̞kʲi] (narrow) |
The term refers to the vital liquid flowing in human and animal bodies. Beyond its literal meaning, 血 is often used metaphorically to refer to family lineage or blood relations, much like in English.
Which one should you use?
血 is typically used in general or poetic contexts, whereas 血液 is the standard term used in medical, scientific or formal contexts to refer to blood as a bodily fluid.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word for blood pressure is 血圧, which is a compound combining the kanji for blood and pressure.
How do you pronounce it?
chi
Did you know?
- In certain idiomatic expressions, 'blood' can represent one's very essence or 'spirit'. For instance, 血肉 (ketsuniku) means 'flesh and blood' but is used to describe something that has become an inseparable part of your knowledge or being.
- The kanji 血 is also used in the word 血色, which refers to the 'color of blood' but is used in daily conversation to describe a person's complexion or whether they look healthy.
- Japanese uses the word 血 in the phrase 血を分ける, meaning 'to divide blood', which is the standard way to say that two people are biological siblings.
Examples in context
- 高血圧です。I have high blood pressure.This sentence is useful for describing a medical condition regarding 血.Tatoeba #173215 by bunbuku, translation #241256 by CK
- 血液型何型？What is your blood type?This sentence is useful for asking about a blood type using 血.Tatoeba #3252952 by tommy_san, translation #372352 by contour
- 吐血しました。I coughed up blood.This sentence is useful for describing the physical act of coughing up 血.Tatoeba #124614 by tommy__san, translation #279380 by CK
- 160 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A person is treating a small cut on another person's finger.
- 陽太 Yota指から血が出ているよ。Yubi kara chi ga dete iru yo.You are bleeding from your finger.
- 美咲 Misakiあ、本当だ。少し痛いな。A, honto da. Sukoshi itai na.Oh, you're right. It hurts a little.
- 陽太 Yota大丈夫？血を拭こうね。Daijoubu? Chi o fukou ne.Are you okay? Let's wipe away the blood.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとう、助かるよ。Arigatou, tasukaru yo.Thank you, that helps.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blood” translations and entries 血, 血液, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
