浮 如水漂木。主表实，亦主里实虚。
沉 重按乃得（在筋骨间。）主里实，亦主里虚。
数 一息六至。主实热，亦主虚寒。
迟 一息三至。主虚寒，亦主实热。
长 指下迢迢。（上至鱼际，下至尺泽。）主气治，亦主阳盛阴虚。
短 两头缩缩。（寸不通鱼际，尺不通尺泽。）主气损，亦主中窒。
大 应指满溢。（长而无力。）主邪盛，亦主正虚。
小 三部皆小。（指下显然。）主气虚，亦主内实。
洪 来盛去悠。（既大且数。）主热极，亦主内虚。
微 按之模糊。（若有若无，浮中沉皆是。）主阴阳气绝，亦主邪实。
实 举指逼逼。（举按皆强。）主热实，亦主寒实。
虚 豁然浮大。（浮见。）主气血空虚。
紧 劲急弹手。（弹如转索。）主寒闭，亦主表虚。
缓 来去和缓。主无病，亦主实热虚寒。
濡 如絮浮水。（浮见。）主气衰，亦主外湿。
弱 小弱分明。（沉见。）主气虚，亦分阴阳胃气。
芤 按之减小。（浮沉皆有，中取减小。）主血虚。
弦 端直而长。（浮沉皆见。）主木盛土衰，亦看兼脉。
滑 往来流利。（数见。）主痰饮，亦主气虚不统。
涩 往来艰涩。（迟见。）主血虚，亦主寒湿热闭。
动 两关滑数如珠。主阴阳相搏。
伏 着骨始得。（较沉更甚。）主邪闭，亦分痰火寒气。
促 数时一止。主阳邪内陷。
结 迟时一止。主气血渐衰，亦主邪结。
革 浮取强直，按之中空。主精血虚损。
牢 沉取强直搏指。（沉伏之间。）主寒实。
疾 一息七八至。主阳亢，亦主阳浮。
细 细如蛛丝。主气虚，亦主热结里虚。
代 止歇有时。主气绝，亦主经隧有阻。
散 来去不明。主气散。
督 轻取弦长而浮。（六脉皆见。）主风伤身后总摄之阳，故脊强不能俯仰。
冲 按之弦长坚实。（六脉皆是。）主寒伤身前冲要之阴，故气逆里急。
任 紧细而长。（六脉形如豆粒。）主寒伤身前承任之阴，故少腹切痛。
阳维 右尺内斜至寸而浮。主邪伤一身之表，故寒热不能自持。
阴维 左尺外斜至寸而沉。主邪伤一身之里，故心痛失志。
阳 两寸左右弹浮紧细。主邪伤左右之阳，故腰背苦痛。
阴 两尺左右弹沉紧细。主邪伤左右之阴，故少腹切痛。
带脉 两关左右弹滑而紧。主邪伤中腰带束之处，故腰腹痛。
有力 久按根底不绝。（非坚劲搏指。）主病无害，亦防气逆。
有神 光泽润滑。（稳浓肉里，不离中部。）主病治，亦防痰蓄。
胃气 脉缓和匀。（意思悠悠。）主病愈，亦忌谷食减少，寸口脉平。
Floating pulse: Resembles wood floating on water. Indicates exterior excess syndrome, or interior excess/deficiency syndromes.
Sinking pulse: Only palpable with heavy pressure (located between sinews and bones). Indicates interior excess syndrome, or interior deficiency syndrome.
Rapid pulse: Six beats per respiratory cycle. Indicates excess-heat syndrome, or deficiency-cold syndrome.
Slow pulse: Three beats per respiratory cycle. Indicates deficiency-cold syndrome, or excess-heat syndrome.
Long pulse: Feels long under the fingers. (Extends upward beyond the Yuji point [LU10] and downward beyond the Chize point [LU5].) Indicates harmonious Qi mechanism, or Yang excess with Yin deficiency.
Short pulse: Shortened at both ends. (The Cun position does not reach Yuji [LU10], and the Chi position does not reach Chize [LU5].) Indicates Qi damage, or middle-jiao obstruction.
Large pulse: Feels full and overflowing under the finger. (Long but forceless.) Indicates pathogenic excess, or healthy Qi deficiency.
Small pulse: The Cun, Guan, and Chi positions are all small. (Clearly visible under the finger.) Indicates Qi deficiency, or interior excess.
Surging pulse: Comes vigorously and goes leisurely. (Both large and rapid.) Indicates extreme heat, or interior deficiency.
Minute pulse: Fuzzy upon pressing. (Seemingly present yet absent; palpable in superficial, middle, and deep levels.) Indicates exhaustion of Yin and Yang Qi, or pathogenic excess.
Solid pulse: Feels strong and forceful even with light lifting. (Strong in both light and heavy pressure.) Indicates heat-excess or cold-excess syndrome.
Deficient pulse: Suddenly appears large and floating. (Manifests as a floating pulse.) Indicates emptiness of Qi and Blood.
Tight pulse: Tense, urgent, and bouncy against the finger. (Bounces like a turning rope.) Indicates cold closure, or exterior deficiency.
Moderate pulse: Comes and goes gently and slowly. Indicates health/no disease, or excess-heat/deficiency-cold syndromes.
Soft pulse: Like cotton wool floating on water. (Manifests as a floating pulse.) Indicates Qi decline, or external dampness.
Weak pulse: Small, weak, and distinct. (Manifests as a sinking pulse.) Indicates Qi deficiency, and helps distinguish the presence of Yin/Yang and Stomach Qi.
Scallion-stalk pulse: Becomes smaller upon pressing. (Present in superficial and deep levels, but diminishes in the middle level.) Indicates Blood deficiency.
Wiry pulse: Straight, rigid, and long. (Visible in both superficial and deep levels.) Indicates Liver Wood excess and Spleen Earth deficiency; also requires analysis of combined pulses.
Slippery pulse: Flows smoothly and freely. (Often accompanied by rapidity.) Indicates phlegm-fluid retention, or Qi deficiency failing to control.
Choppy pulse: Flows with difficulty and roughness. (Often accompanied by slowness.) Indicates Blood deficiency, or closure by cold, heat, or dampness.
Moving pulse: Slippery and rapid at both Guan positions, rolling like pearls. Indicates mutual struggle between Yin and Yang.
Hidden pulse: Palpable only when pressed to the bone. (Deeper than the sinking pulse.) Indicates pathogenic closure, and helps distinguish phlegm, fire, cold, or Qi stagnation.
Hasty pulse: Rapid pulse with occasional pauses. Indicates internal entrapment of Yang pathogen.
Knotted pulse: Slow pulse with occasional pauses. Indicates gradual decline of Qi and Blood, or pathogenic knotting.
Leather pulse: Strong and rigid upon light pressure, but hollow in the middle upon heavy pressure. Indicates depletion of Essence and Blood.
Firm pulse: Strong, rigid, and beating against the finger upon heavy pressure. (Located between sinking and hidden levels.) Indicates cold-excess syndrome.
Urgent pulse: Seven to eight beats per respiratory cycle. Indicates Yang hyperactivity, or Yang floating.
Thready pulse: Thin as a spider's silk. Indicates Qi deficiency, or heat knot with interior deficiency.
Intermittent pulse: Pauses occur at regular intervals. Indicates Qi exhaustion, or obstruction in the meridians.
Scattered pulse: Indistinct in both arrival and departure. Indicates dispersion of Qi.
Du vessel pulse characteristic: Light pressure reveals wiry, long, and floating qualities. (Seen in all six positions.) Indicates Wind pathogen damaging the governing Yang of the posterior, resulting in stiff spine unable to bend forward or backward.
Chong vessel pulse characteristic: Heavy pressure reveals wiry, long, and solid qualities. (Seen in all six positions.) Indicates Cold pathogen damaging the essential Yin of the anterior, resulting in rebellious Qi and abdominal tension.
Ren vessel pulse characteristic: Tight, thin, and long. (All six positions resemble bean grains.) Indicates Cold pathogen damaging the bearing Yin of the anterior, resulting in severe lower abdominal pain.
Yang Wei vessel pulse characteristic: The right Chi position slopes inward toward the Cun position and is floating. Indicates pathogen damaging the exterior of the whole body, resulting in chills and fever that cannot be controlled.
Yin Wei vessel pulse characteristic: The left Chi position slopes outward toward the Cun position and is sinking. Indicates pathogen damaging the interior of the whole body, resulting in heart pain and loss of spirit/mind.
Yang pulse characteristic: Both Cun positions show bouncing, floating, tight, thin qualities. Indicates pathogen damaging the Yang on both sides, resulting in painful back and waist.
Yin pulse characteristic: Both Chi positions show bouncing, sinking, tight, thin qualities. Indicates pathogen damaging the Yin on both sides, resulting in severe lower abdominal pain.
Dai vessel pulse characteristic: Both Guan positions show bouncing, slippery, and tight qualities. Indicates pathogen damaging the area bound by the girdle vessel, resulting in waist and abdominal pain.
Forceful: Root remains uninterrupted after prolonged pressing. (Not necessarily hard and pounding.) Indicates the disease is harmless, but warns against rebellious Qi.
Spirit: Glossy and smooth. (Steady and thick within the flesh, staying in the middle.) Indicates the disease is treatable, but warns against phlegm accumulation.
Stomach Qi: Pulse is moderate, gentle, and uniform. (Meaning is lingering.) Indicates recovery from disease; also cautions against reduced food intake and emphasizes a peaceful Cun Kou pulse.