bin1砭
Jyutpingbin1
Yalebīn
Definition
An ancient stone needle used for acupuncture, or to pierce and stab.
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How it's used
Refers specifically to the primitive medical practice of using sharpened stones to stimulate acupuncture points or drain abscesses. It is almost exclusively encountered in historical contexts, traditional Chinese medicine literature, or when discussing the origins of acupuncture. You will rarely hear this used in casual daily conversation unless discussing history or specialized medical antiques.
Measure word
zi1支jīExamples
This kind of stone probe is very rare.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 針, which is the modern term for acupuncture needles made of metal. Using 砭 to describe a modern medical needle will sound archaic or confusing to a native speaker.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
