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Floating pulse (Fú Mài, Floating Pulse): Light pressure feels insufficient, while heavy pressure feels abundant. If corresponding with the Renying pulse (Renying acupoint/pulse), wind-cold is in the meridians; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse (Qikou acupoint/pulse), Ying-blood is deficient and damaged.

Sinking pulse (Chén Mài, Sinking Pulse): Light pressure feels insufficient, while heavy pressure feels abundant. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, cold is latent in the Yin meridians; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, blood is coagulated in the abdomen and viscera.

Slow pulse (Chí Mài, Slow Pulse): The pulse beat is extremely slow, firm and solid upon heavy pressure. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, damp-cold is stagnant; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, deficiency-cold is accumulated.

Rapid pulse (Shuò Mài, Rapid Pulse): The pulse comes and goes hurriedly, beating multiple times per respiration. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, wind-dryness and heat cause restlessness; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, Yin deficiency and Yang excess prevail.

Deficient pulse (Xū Mài, Deficient Pulse): Slow, large, and soft, feeling hollow upon heavy pressure. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, the meridians are injured by summer-heat; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, Ying and Wei Qi scatter and deplete.

Excess pulse (Shí Mài, Excess Pulse): Forceful upon both light and heavy pressure, neither fast nor slow. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, wind-cold penetrates the meridians; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, Qi and blood are congested in the vessels.

Moderate pulse (Huǎn Mài, Moderate/Sluggish Pulse): Floating, large, and soft, coming and going slightly slowly. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, wind-heat enters the viscera; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, extreme anger injures the sinews.

Tight pulse (Jǐn Mài, Tight Pulse): Movement is irregular, like a single thread pulled taut. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, the meridians are affected by cold damage; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, the viscera suffer pain.

Surging pulse (Hóng Mài, Surging/Flood Pulse): Arriving is very large, departing is long. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, cold congests the various Yang meridians; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, Qi attacks the hundred vessels.

Fine pulse (Xì Mài, Fine/Thready Pulse): Under the fingers, searching reveals it coming and going like a thread. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, the various meridians are invaded by dampness; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, the five viscera have coagulated phlegm-fluid.

Slippery pulse (Huá Mài, Slippery Pulse): Coming and going smooth and fluent, like pearls strung together. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, wind-phlegm surges and overflows; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, phlegm-fluid stagnates.

Choppy pulse (Sè Mài, Choppy/Rough Pulse): Irregular and unharmonious, like rain soaking into sand. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, wind-damp-cold bi-syndrome occurs; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, body fluids, sweat, and blood are depleted.

String-taut pulse (Xián Mài, String-Taut/Percussion String Pulse): Straight, tight, and urgent, like a drawn bowstring. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, wind causes wandering pain; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, fluid accumulation overflows causing pain.

Weak pulse (Ruò Mài, Weak Pulse): Almost imperceptible upon heavy pressure, soft and powerless upon light pressure. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, wind-dampness is lax and relaxed; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, sinew exhaustion leads to flaccidity and paralysis.

Knotted pulse (Jié Mài, Knotted/Irregular-Slow Pulse): Coming and going slowly, occasionally stopping then resuming. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, Yin scatters and Yang generates; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, accumulations obstruct Qi nodes.

Rapid-interrupted pulse (Cù Mài, Rapid-Interrupted/Irregular-Fast Pulse): Coming and going rapidly, occasionally stopping then resuming. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, phlegm congests the Yang meridians; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, accumulations remain in the Stomach organ.

Scallion-stem pulse (Kōu Mài, Scallion-Stem/Hollow Pulse): Empty in the center and solid on the sides, like pressing on a scallion stem. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, pathogenic factors congest leading to hematemesis and epistaxis; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, Ying-blood deficiency causes reckless bleeding.

Minute pulse (Wēi Mài, Minute/Faint Pulse): Extremely fine and soft, seeming to exist yet not. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, wind-summer-heat causes spontaneous sweating; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, slight Yang Qi escapes and depletes.

Moving pulse (Dòng Mài, Moving Pulse): At the Guan position, it resembles a bean, quivering but not moving elsewhere. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, cold causes painful cold sensations; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, heart fright and gallbladder fear occur.

Hidden pulse (Fú Mài, Hidden Pulse): Deep and hidden, not emerging, only felt when pressing to the bone. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, cold-dampness is entrenched and closed; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, contemplation stagnates the Spirit.

Long pulse (Cháng Mài, Long Pulse): Coming and going fluent, extending beyond the three positions (Cun, Guan, Chi). If corresponding with the Renying pulse, minor pathogens heal themselves; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, Zang-Qi is balanced and cured.

Short pulse (Duǎn Mài, Short Pulse): Feels rapid upon light or heavy pressure, but does not reach its proper extent. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, pathogens close the meridians; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, accumulations obstruct Zang-Qi.

Soggy pulse (Rú Mài, Soggy/Soft Pulse): Not visible/felt upon heavy pressure, only felt with light touch. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, cold-dampness is diffuse; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, undigested food diarrhea and physical weakness occur.

Drum-skin pulse (Gé Mài, Drum-Skin/Hard Pulse): Sinking, hidden, solid, and large, like pressing on a drum skin. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, wind-stroke combined with dampness; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, miscarriage or essence depletion occurs.

Scattered pulse (Sàn Mài, Scattered Pulse): Has Yang but no Yin, filling the fingers upon pressure but lacking root. If corresponding with the Renying pulse, excessive pathogens cause leakage/depletion; if corresponding with the Qikou pulse, essence and blood are ruined and consumed.

Intermittent pulse (Dài Mài, Intermittent Pulse): Zang-Qi fails and stops midway, other Zang-Qi takes over the beat. Regardless of internal or external etiology, obtaining this pulse indicates certain death.