洪与虚虽属皆浮，而有有力无力之分；沉与伏虽应重按，而有着筋着骨之异，数以六至为名，
紧则六至不及，疾则六至更过，弦则左右双弹，状如切紧绳也。迟以三至为名，缓则仍有四至而徐徐不迫。
实与牢本兼弦与长，而实则浮中沉俱有，牢则止于沉候见矣。洪与实皆为有力，然洪则重按少衰，实则按
之益强矣。革与牢皆大而弦，而革以浮见，牢以沉见矣。濡与弱微，皆细而软，然濡以浮见，弱以沉见，而
微则以浮沉俱见矣。细与微，皆属无力，而细则指下分明，微则模糊不清。短与动，皆无头尾，而短为阴脉，
其来迟滞；动为阳脉，其来滑数矣。促结涩代，皆有一
止，而促则数时一止，结则缓时一止。涩则往来迟滞似歇，代则止有定数矣。脉形比类，又属如斯。（比类既
明，则诸疑脉可辨。）
以脉大纲小目而论∶凡脉有言形体，曰洪、曰散、曰弦、曰革、曰肥、曰横，是即大脉之属也。有言
形体，曰细、曰微、曰弱、曰瘦、曰萦萦如蜘蛛，是即小脉之属也。有言至数，曰疾、曰急、曰动、曰促、曰击、
曰搏、曰躁、曰喘、曰奔越无伦者，是即数脉之属也。有言至数，曰缓、曰代、曰结、曰脱、曰少气、曰不前、
曰止、曰歇、曰如泻膝之绝者，是即迟脉之属也。有言往来之象，曰利、曰营、曰啄、曰翕、曰章、曰连珠、
曰替替然，是即滑脉之目也。有言往来之象，曰紧、曰滞、曰行迟、曰脉不应指，曰参伍不齐、曰难而且散、
曰如雨沾沙、曰如轻刀刮竹、是即涩脉之目也。有言部位之则，曰高、曰 、曰涌、曰端直、曰条达、曰上鱼
为溢，是皆长脉之目矣。有言部位之则，曰抑、曰卑、曰不及指、曰入尺为复，是皆短脉之目矣。有言举按
之则，曰芤、曰毛、曰泛、曰盛、曰肉上行、曰时一浮、曰如水漂木、曰如循榆荚，曰瞥瞥如羹上肥，是皆浮
脉之目矣。有言举按之则，曰伏、曰潜、曰坚、曰过、曰减、曰陷、曰独沉、曰时一沉、曰如绵裹砂、曰如石
投水，是皆沉脉之目矣。且纲之大者，曰大、曰数、曰长、曰浮、阳之属
也。纲之小者，曰迟、曰涩、曰短、曰沉、阴之属也（卢子由）。脉之纲目如斯（纲目既明，则脉自有所归）。
洪脉与虚脉虽然都属于浮脉，但有有力和无力的区别；沉脉与伏脉虽然都需要重按才能触及，但有着在筋上和着在骨上的不同。脉率以六次搏动为一息（正常呼吸周期）为命名标准：紧脉的搏动次数不及六至，疾脉的搏动次数超过六至，弦脉则左右弹指，形状像切紧的绳子一样。迟脉以三次搏动为一息为标准，缓脉仍有四次搏动，但从容不迫、徐缓。实脉与牢脉本来兼具弦脉和长脉的特征，但实脉在浮取、中取、沉取三部都有力，而牢脉只在沉取时显现。洪脉与实脉都表现为有力，然而洪脉重按时力量稍减，实脉重按时力量反而更强。革脉与牢脉都大而弦，但革脉在浮取时显现，牢脉在沉取时显现。濡脉、弱脉、微脉，都细软无力，但濡脉在浮取时显现，弱脉在沉取时显现，而微脉则在浮取和沉取时都能见到。细脉与微脉，都属于无力之脉，但细脉在指下感觉分明，微脉则模糊不清。短脉与动脉，都没有明显的头尾，但短脉属于阴脉，其来势迟缓滞涩；动脉属于阳脉，其来势滑利数急。促脉、结脉、涩脉、代脉，都有一个停顿的现象，但促脉是在数急时出现一次停顿，结脉是在缓慢时出现一次停顿。涩脉往来迟缓滞涩，好像要停止一样，代脉则是停顿有一定的规律和次数。脉形的比较分类，大致如此。（如果比较分类明白了，那么各种疑难的脉象就可以辨别了。）
从脉象的大纲和小目来看：凡是描述脉象形态的，有洪脉、散脉、弦脉、革脉、肥脉、横脉，这些都属于大脉类。凡是描述脉象形态的，有细脉、微脉、弱脉、瘦脉、萦萦如蜘蛛丝状，这些都属于小脉类。凡是描述脉率的，有疾脉、急脉、动脉、促脉、击脉、搏脉、躁脉、喘脉、奔越无伦次的脉，这些都属于数脉类。凡是描述脉率的，有缓脉、代脉、结脉、脱脉、少气脉、不前脉、止脉、歇脉、像泻膝绝断一样的脉，这些都属于迟脉类。凡是描述脉来去形象的，有利脉、营脉、啄脉、翕脉、章脉、连珠脉、替替然脉，这些都属于滑脉的小目。凡是描述脉来去形象的，有紧脉、滞脉、行迟脉、脉不应指脉、参伍不齐脉、难而且散脉、如雨沾沙脉、如轻刀刮竹脉，这些都属于涩脉的小目。凡是描述脉位规律的，有高脉、脉位偏上脉、涌脉、端直脉、条达脉、上鱼际为溢脉，这些都是长脉的小目。凡是描述脉位规律的，有抑脉、卑脉、不及指脉、入尺为复脉，这些都是短脉的小目。凡是描述举按法则的，有芤脉、毛脉、泛脉、盛脉、肉上行脉、时一浮脉、如水漂木脉、如循榆荚脉、瞥瞥如羹上肥脉，这些都是浮脉的小目。凡是描述举按法则的，有伏脉、潜脉、坚脉、过脉、减脉、陷脉、独沉脉、时一沉脉、如绵裹砂脉、如石投水脉，这些都是沉脉的小目。而且大纲中较大的，有大脉、数脉、长脉、浮脉，属于阳脉类。大纲中较小的，有迟脉、涩脉、短脉、沉脉，属于阴脉类（卢子由）。脉象的纲目就是这样（如果纲目明确了，脉象自然就有归属了）。
Although Hong (Surging) pulse and Xu (Deficient) pulse both belong to Fu (Floating) pulses, they differ in being forceful versus forceless. Although Chen (Deep) pulse and Fu (Hidden) pulse both require heavy pressure to be felt, they differ in that one rests on the tendons while the other rests on the bones. The pulse rate is named based on six beats per respiration cycle: Jin (Tight) pulse has fewer than six beats; Ji (Rapid) pulse has more than six beats; Xian (Wiry) pulse bounces from left to right, resembling a tightly stretched rope. Chi (Slow) pulse is defined as three beats per respiration; Huan (Languid) pulse still has four beats but is leisurely and unhurried. Shi (Excess) pulse and Lao (Firm) pulse inherently possess characteristics of Xian (Wiry) and Chang (Long) pulses, yet Shi pulse is palpable with force at superficial, middle, and deep levels, whereas Lao pulse is only evident at the deep level. Both Hong (Surging) pulse and Shi (Excess) pulse are forceful; however, the force of Hong pulse diminishes slightly upon heavy pressure, while the force of Shi pulse increases upon heavy pressure. Ge (Hollow) pulse and Lao (Firm) pulse are both large and wiry, but Ge pulse is evident at the superficial level, while Lao pulse is evident at the deep level. Ru (Soggy), Ruo (Weak), and Wei (Minute) pulses are all thin and soft; however, Ru pulse is evident at the superficial level, Ruo pulse at the deep level, and Wei pulse is visible at both superficial and deep levels. Both Xi (Thready) pulse and Wei (Minute) pulse are forceless, but Xi pulse is distinct under the fingers, whereas Wei pulse is vague and indistinct. Duan (Short) pulse and Dong (Moving) pulse both lack clear head and tail, but Duan pulse is a Yin pulse with a sluggish and hesitant onset, while Dong pulse is a Yang pulse with a slippery and rapid onset. Cu (Rapid-interrupted), Jie (Knotted), Se (Choppy), and Dai (Intermittent) pulses all exhibit pauses; however, Cu pulse interrupts during a rapid rhythm, Jie pulse interrupts during a slow rhythm. Se pulse flows sluggishly as if pausing, while Dai pulse has pauses with a fixed number of intervals. The comparison of pulse shapes is thus categorized. (Once these comparisons are clear, various difficult-to-distinguish pulses can be identified.)
Regarding the general principles and specific categories of pulses: Those describing pulse form include Hong (Surging), San (Scattered), Xian (Wiry), Ge (Hollow), Fei (Fat/Full), and Heng (Horizontal), which belong to the Da (Large) pulse category. Those describing pulse form also include Xi (Thready), Wei (Minute), Ruo (Weak), Shou (Thin), and those lingering like a spider's web, which belong to the Xiao (Small) pulse category. Those describing pulse frequency include Ji (Rapid), Ji (Urgent), Dong (Moving), Cu (Rapid-interrupted), Ji (Beating), Bo (Pounding), Zao (Restless), Chuan (Panting), and those rushing without order, which belong to the Shu (Rapid) pulse category. Those describing pulse frequency also include Huan (Languid), Dai (Intermittent), Jie (Knotted), Tuo (Escaping), Shao Qi (Short of Qi), Bu Qian (Not Advancing), Zhi (Stopping), Xie (Pausing), and those resembling the abrupt cessation of fluid draining from the knee, which belong to the Chi (Slow) pulse category. Those describing the sensation of flow include Li (Smooth/Advantageous), Ying (Nourishing), Zhuo (Pecking), Xi (Fluttering), Zhang (Chaptered), Lian Zhu (String of Pearls), and Ti Ti Ran (Continuous/Tapping), which are specific aspects of the Hua (Slippery) pulse. Those describing the sensation of flow also include Jin (Tight), Zhi (Stagnant), Xing Chi (Slow-moving), Mai Bu Ying Zhi (Pulse not responding to touch), Can Wu Bu Qi (Irregular/Mixed), Nan Er Qie San (Difficult and Scattered), Ru Yu Zhan Sha (Like rain soaking sand), and Ru Qing Dao Gua Zhu (Like a light knife scraping bamboo), which are specific aspects of the Se (Choppy) pulse. Those describing positional rules include Gao (High), [missing character], Yong (Surging), Duan Zhi (Straight), Tiao Da (Unfolding), and Shang Yu Wei Yi (Overflowing to the Fish-Web area), all of which are specific aspects of the Chang (Long) pulse. Those describing positional rules also include Yi (Depressed), Bei (Low), Bu Ji Zhi (Below the finger), and Ru Chi Wei Fu (Returning to the Chi position), all of which are specific aspects of the Duan (Short) pulse. Those describing lifting and pressing rules include Kou (Bamboo-sheath/Hollow), Mao (Feather-like), Fan (Floating/Surface), Sheng (Abundant), Rou Shang Xing (Flesh rising upward), Shi Yi Fu (Occasionally floating), Ru Shui Piao Mu (Like wood floating on water), Ru Xun Yu Jia (Like touching elm seeds), and Pie Pie Ru Geng Shang Fei (Lightly like fat floating on soup), all of which are specific aspects of the Fu (Floating) pulse. Those describing lifting and pressing rules also include Fu (Hidden), Qian (Submerged), Jian (Hard), Guo (Excessive), Jian (Reduced), Xian (Sunken), Du Chen (Alone Deep), Shi Yi Chen (Occasionally deep), Ru Mian Guo Sha (Like sand wrapped in cotton), and Ru Shi Tou Shui (Like a stone thrown into water), all of which are specific aspects of the Chen (Deep) pulse. Furthermore, among the major general principles, Da (Large), Shu (Rapid), Chang (Long), and Fu (Floating) pulses belong to the Yang category. Among the minor general principles, Chi (Slow), Se (Choppy), Duan (Short), and Chen (Deep) pulses belong to the Yin category (Lu Ziyou). Thus are the general principles and specific categories of pulses. (Once the general principles and specific categories are clear, pulses naturally find their proper classification.)