脉搏 màibó pulse (both medical and figurative)
How to remember 脉搏: 脉 a pulse + 搏 combat = pulse (both medical and figurative).
Characters
How it is used
- The pulse - literal and figurative - 摸脉搏 (mō màibó) to feel the pulse; 把握时代的脉搏 (bǎwò shídài de màibó) to grasp the pulse of the times.
- Medical for the wrist pulse, and a common metaphor for the rhythm/trend of an era, market, or society.
- Figurative use pairs with 把握 / 感受 (grasp/sense).
Example sentences
- 我的脉搏很快。 Wǒ de màibó hěnkuài.My pulse is fast.
- 再检查一下汤姆的脉搏。 Zài jiǎncháyīxià tāngmǔ de màibó.Check Tom's pulse again.