Meaning and Usage
"血" (ち) primarily means "blood" in Japanese. It is used both literally to refer to the red fluid circulating in the body and figuratively to talk about family ties or heritage.
Common Contexts
You will often see "血" in medical contexts, such as injuries or blood tests, as well as in expressions about family relationships, emphasizing biological connections.
Collocations and Patterns
- 血が出る (ちがでる): "blood comes out" — used when someone is bleeding.
- 血のつながり (ちのつながり): "blood relation" — refers to family ties.
- 血液検査 (けつえきけんさ): "blood test" — a common medical examination.
Usage Notes
When using "血", it is important to distinguish between literal and figurative meanings based on context. For example, "血が出る" clearly refers to physical bleeding, while "血のつながり" refers to family relationships. Avoid confusing "血" with "血液" (けつえき), which specifically means "blood" in a medical or scientific sense.
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"血" is a neutral word used in everyday conversation, medical settings, and written language. It is neither formal nor informal but is essential vocabulary for N4 level learners.