How to say "vein" in Japanese

• 静脈じょうみゃくCommon
  nounThe anatomical vein that carries blood back to the heart. This is the precise medical word when you mean a vein as opposed to an artery, as in descriptions of the arm or wrist.
  彼かれが叫さけぶと、首くびの静脈じょうみゃくがはっきりと浮き上うきあがった。↗

  When he shouted, the veins in his neck stood out clearly.
• 血管けっかんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA blood vessel generally, which can be a vein, artery, or capillary. Use this when you mean blood vessels overall or the visible vessels under the skin, not the vein-versus-artery distinction.
  切きれた血管けっかんから血ちがどくどくと流れ出ながれでた。↗

  Blood poured from the cut vein.
• 鉱脈こうみゃくCommon
  nounA vein of ore in rock, the mining sense of 'vein'. It also covers a related streak or lode, so it is the word for mineral deposits, not for anatomy or figurative uses.
• 一脈いちみゃくCommon
  nounMostly a figurative 'vein' meaning a thread of connection, as in ideas belonging to the same vein or lineage. It is not the word for a physical vein in the body or in ore.
• 調子ちょうしJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA figurative 'vein' in the sense of mood, tone, or manner, such as speaking in a cheerful vein. It never refers to a physical vein, so it is only for this abstract sense.

For body anatomy choose 静脈 or 血管; for veins of ore use 鉱脈; 一脈 refers to a thread of connection; and 調子 covers the figurative 'vein' meaning mood or manner, not a physical vein.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 静脈じょうみゃくvein
• 血管けっかんblood vessel
• 鉱脈こうみゃくvein (of ore)
• 一脈いちみゃく(a) vein
• 青筋あおすじvein (visible under the skin)
• 調子ちょうしvein
• 筋すじvein
• 脈みゃくvein