Chinese word

脉络

Pronunciation

Pinyinmài luò

Meaning

  • nouncoherence

Example

他说话没脉络，我听不懂。tā shuō huà méi mài luò wǒ tīng bù dǒng

What he says lacks coherence, so I can't understand him.

Illustration for 脉络 (coherence)

More examples

理解历史脉络有助于分析事件。lí jiě lì shǐ mài luò yǒu zhù yú fēn xī shì jiàn

Understanding the historical context helps analyze events.

Core concept

The connected thread that lets the parts of a speech, text, or event form a clear and followable whole.

Common phrases

  • 脉络不清mài luò bù qīng

    lack coherence

  • 历史脉络lì shǐ mài luò

    historical context

  • 找到脉络zhǎo dào mài luò

    find the connection

Similar words

线索xiàn suǒ: A clue or trail used to uncover the truth or follow the course of an event.
条理tiáo lǐ: Clear order and organization in speech or writing, making each part easy to follow.
逻辑luó jí: A rational connection between ideas that makes reasoning or an explanation sound.

Definition in Chinese

指事物之间的内在联系或发展次序，常用于说明说话、文章或事情的条理与来龙去脉。zhǐ shì wù zhī jiān de nèi zài lián xì huò fā zhǎn cì xù cháng yòng yú shuō míng shuō huà wén zhāng huò shì qíng de tiáo lǐ yǔ lái lóng qù mài

Word origin

脉 (mài, "vein; pulse") + 络 (luò, "network") originally described a network of blood vessels, then came to name the connected thread of an account or situation.

Usage tips

  • For everyday Chinese, it helps judge whether an explanation moves naturally from one part to the next, rather than whether the speaker is right.

Other meanings

  • contextnoun
  • connectionnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word