Meaning
The kanji 泌 (ひ) means to secrete, discharge, ooze, or excrete. It describes the process where a gland or cell produces and releases a substance, usually a fluid, either within an organism or onto its surface. For instance, it's used for the secretion of hormones, enzymes, sweat, or the discharge of urine. This kanji is almost exclusively encountered in scientific, medical, and biological fields, making it crucial for advanced Japanese learners in these areas.
The visual structure of 泌 offers clues to its meaning. On the left is the radical 氵 (さんずい), the 'water' radical, which immediately suggests a connection to liquids or fluids. On the right is the component 必 (ひつ), meaning 'must' or 'certainly.' Together, these elements convey 'a liquid that must flow' or 'a certain discharge of liquid.' This etymology effectively illustrates the core idea of secretion – a necessary, often involuntary, release of fluids from a specific source.
The kanji 泌 has 8 strokes. It's an N1 level kanji, considered advanced and not part of the standard Jōyō Kanji list. This highlights its specialized usage and the higher proficiency needed to master it.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary, and almost exclusive, on'yomi reading for 泌 is ヒ (HI). You'll find this reading consistently in compound words, particularly those related to biological and medical terms involving secretion or the urinary system. Mastering it is key to understanding advanced texts in these fields.
- 分泌 (bunpi) — This is perhaps the most common compound, meaning 'secretion.' It refers to the process of a substance being produced and released by a cell or gland. For example, hormones are secreted by endocrine glands.
- 泌尿器 (hinyōki) — Meaning 'urinary organs' or 'urinary tract.' This compound is fundamental in medical terminology, referring to organs like the kidneys and bladder that filter blood and produce urine.
- 泌乳 (hinyū) — Meaning 'lactation' or 'secretion of milk.' This term specifically describes the production and release of milk from mammary glands.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Unlike many kanji, 泌 has no commonly used independent kun'yomi readings. While older dictionaries might list readings like なが-れる (nagareru) or なが-す (nagasu), these are almost exclusively associated with the kanji 流 (ながれる, ながす), meaning 'to flow' or 'to make flow.' In modern Japanese, 泌 is virtually always found in compound words, taking its on'yomi reading of ヒ (HI). This makes it a unique kanji, as its meaning largely depends on its combination with other kanji to form specialized vocabulary. Advanced learners should therefore prioritize its on'yomi compounds.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 泌 appears in many specialized terms, mostly in biological and medical contexts. These compounds frequently describe processes related to bodily fluid production and discharge.
Biological & Medical Terms:
- 分泌 (bunpi) — secretion (the process of producing and discharging a substance).
- 分泌物 (bunpibutsu) — secreted substance, discharge (the actual substance that is secreted).
- 内分泌 (naibunpi) — endocrine secretion (secretion into the bloodstream, e.g., hormones).
- 外分泌 (gaibunpi) — exocrine secretion (secretion onto an external surface or into a duct, e.g., sweat, saliva).
- 分泌腺 (bunpisen) — secretory gland (a gland that produces and secretes substances).
- 分泌液 (bunpieki) — secreted fluid (general term for any fluid that is secreted).
- 泌尿器 (hinyōki) — urinary organs/tract (refers to the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra).
- 泌尿器科 (hinyōkika) — urology (the medical specialty dealing with the urinary tract).
- 泌乳 (hinyū) — lactation, milk secretion (the physiological process of producing breast milk).
- 泌出 (hisshutsu) — oozing out, exudation (the slow leakage or escape of fluid).
- 泌液 (hieki) — secreted fluid (a more direct, though less common, term for secreted fluid).
- 神経泌 (shinkeihi) — neurosecretion (the secretion of hormones by nerve cells).
Example Sentences
この腺は特定のホルモンを分泌します。
Kono sen wa tokutei no horumon o bunpi shimasu.
This gland secretes specific hormones.
ストレスは体内の様々な物質の分泌に影響します。
Sutoresu wa tainai no samazama na busshitsu no bunpi ni eikyō shimasu.
Stress affects the secretion of various substances in the body.
泌尿器科の医師は尿路の問題を専門とします。
Hinyōkika no ishi wa nyōro no mondai o senmon to shimasu.
Urologists specialize in urinary tract problems.
この病気は過剰な汗の分泌を引き起こします。
Kono byōki wa kajō na ase no bunpi o hikiokoshimasu.
This illness causes excessive sweat secretion.
授乳中の母親は泌乳を促すホルモンを分泌します。
Junyūchū no hahaoya wa hinyū o unagasu horumon o bunpi shimasu.
Lactating mothers secrete hormones that promote milk production.
胃酸の分泌が多すぎると、胃に負担がかかります。
Isan no bunpi ga oosugiru to, i ni futan ga kakarimasu.
Excessive gastric acid secretion places a burden on the stomach.
植物の葉から粘着性の液体が泌出していました。
Shokubutsu no ha kara nenchakusei no ekitai ga hisshutsu shite imashita.
A sticky liquid was oozing from the plant's leaves.
内分泌系は、ホルモンの分泌を通じて身体の機能を調整します。
Naibunpitsukei wa, horumon no bunpi o tsuujite karada no kinō o chōsei shimasu.
The endocrine system regulates bodily functions through hormone secretion.
Memory Tip
To remember 泌, break it down by its components: the 'water' radical 氵 (sanzui) on the left, and 必 (hitsu), meaning 'must' or 'certainly,' on the right. Visualize a gland or organ that must (必) release or secrete a liquid (氵). You could imagine the '必' part as representing the inevitable pathway or the certainty that liquid will flow out. Picture a steady, essential flow of a specific fluid, like tears from an eye or hormones from a gland. This combination effectively highlights the natural, often involuntary, act of discharging a liquid.