Definition

1. Verb (archaic, traditional medicine):
   • To diagnose by feeling the pulse: The traditional medical practice of examining a patient's condition by assessing the rhythm, strength, and quality of their pulse.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Thầy thuốc ngồi chẩn mạch cho bệnh nhân rất lâu. (The physician sat for a long time, diagnosing the patient by feeling their pulse.)
  • Trong y học cổ truyền, chẩn mạch là một phương pháp quan trọng. (In traditional medicine, diagnosing by pulse is an important method.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "chẩn mạch" is specific to historical or traditional Vietnamese medical contexts. In modern clinical settings, the act is more commonly described as part of a general physical examination.

Variants and Related Words

• Bắt mạch (v): A more colloquial synonym meaning "to take the pulse" or "to feel the pulse," often used interchangeably with "chẩn mạch."
  • Ông lang bắt mạch rồi gật gù. (The traditional healer felt the pulse and then nodded thoughtfully.)

Synonyms

• Pulse diagnosis: The English term for the diagnostic method.
• Take the pulse: A general modern phrase for checking the pulse.

Notes on Usage

• "Chẩn mạch" is considered an archaic or specialized term. It explicitly combines the act of pulse-taking (bắt mạch) with the purpose of diagnosis (chẩn - to examine/diagnose). It is not used in the context of modern Western medicine.

1. (y học, cũ) Diagnose by feeling the pulse (of a patient)