体象 迟脉属阴，象为不及；往来迟慢，三至一息。
主病 迟脉主藏，其病为寒。寸迟上寒，心痛停凝。关迟
中寒， 结挛筋。尺迟火衰，溲便不禁；或病腰足，疝痛牵阴。
兼脉 有力积冷，无力虚寒。浮迟表冷，沉迟里寒。迟涩血少，迟缓湿寒。迟滑胀满，迟微难安。
【按】迟之为义，迟滞而不能中和也。脉以一息四至为和平，若一息三至，则迟而不及矣。阴性
多滞，故阴寒之症，脉必见迟也。譬如太阳隶于南陆，则火度而行数；隶于北陆，则水度而行迟，即此可以
征阴阳迟速之故矣。伪诀云∶“重手乃得”，是沉脉而非迟矣。又云∶“状且难”，
是涩脉而非迟矣。一息三至，甚为分明，而误云“隐隐”，是微脉而非迟矣。迟而不流利，则为涩脉。迟
而有歇止，则为结脉。迟而浮大且软，则为虚脉。至于缓脉，绝不相类。夫缓以脉形之宽缓得名，迟以至数之
不及为义，故缓脉四至，宽缓和平，迟脉三至，迟滞不前，然则二脉各别，又安足溷哉！以李濒湖之通达，
亦云“小快于迟作缓持”，以至数论缓脉，是千虑之一失也。
王叔和曰∶“一呼一至曰离经，二呼一至曰夺精，三呼一至曰死，四呼一至曰命绝，此损之脉也。
一损损于皮毛，二损损于血脉，三损损于肌肉，四损损于筋，五损损于骨。”是知脉之至数愈迟，则症之
阴寒益甚矣。
【脉象特征】迟脉属于阴脉，其形象表现为脉搏跳动不及正常标准；脉搏往来迟缓缓慢，每一次呼吸间仅跳动三次。
【主病】迟脉主要主脏病，其病症性质为寒证。寸口部见迟脉，提示上焦有寒，导致心区疼痛且气血凝滞不通；关部见迟脉，提示中焦有寒，导致气结筋挛；尺部见迟脉，提示命门火衰，导致大小便失禁；或者出现腰足疾病，疝气疼痛牵引至阴部。
【兼脉】若迟脉有力，多为积冷（寒气积聚）；若迟脉无力，多为虚寒。浮而迟的脉象，主表寒；沉而迟的脉象，主里寒。迟而涩的脉象，主血少；迟而缓的脉象，主湿寒。迟而滑的脉象，主胀满；迟而微弱的脉象，主病情危重难以安宁。
【按语】“迟”的含义，是指脉气迟滞而不能达到中和的状态。脉搏以一次呼吸跳动四次为平和之象，如果一次呼吸只跳动三次，那就是迟脉，属于不及。阴气多具有停滞的特性，所以阴寒性质的病症，脉象必然表现为迟。这就好比太阳运行在南陆时，行经火度而速度较快；运行在北陆时，行经水度而速度较慢，由此可以推知阴阳导致脉速快慢的原因了。伪诀中说：“必须重按才能摸到”，这是沉脉而不是迟脉。又说：“脉状艰难”，这是涩脉而不是迟脉。一次呼吸跳动三次，界限非常分明，却错误地描述为“隐隐约约”，这是微脉而不是迟脉。迟脉如果不流利，就是涩脉；迟脉如果有间歇停顿，就是结脉；迟脉如果浮大且柔软，就是虚脉。至于缓脉，与迟脉绝不相类。缓脉是因为脉形宽阔舒缓而得名，迟脉是因为至数不及（次数少）而定义，所以缓脉一次呼吸跳动四次，宽阔舒缓且平和；迟脉一次呼吸跳动三次，迟滞不前。既然这样，这两种脉象各自不同，又怎么足以混淆呢！以李濒湖（李时珍）的通晓达理，也说“缓脉比迟脉稍快作为持守的标准”，从至数的角度论述缓脉，这是他千虑中的一失。
王叔和说：“一呼一至称为离经，两呼一至称为夺精，三呼一至称为死，四呼一至称为命绝，这些是损脉的表现。一损损伤皮毛，二损损伤血脉，三损损伤肌肉，四损损伤筋，五损损伤骨。”由此可知，脉搏的至数越迟，说明病症的阴寒程度越严重。
[Pulse Image] Chi pulse (Slow Pulse) belongs to Yin; its image manifests as insufficient frequency. The pulse comes and goes slowly, beating three times per respiration cycle.
[Main Diseases] Chi pulse primarily indicates Zang organ diseases, with the pathological nature being Cold. A Chi pulse at the Cun position indicates Upper Jiao Cold, causing heart pain and stagnation. A Chi pulse at the Guan position indicates Middle Jiao Cold, leading to Qi knotting and tendon spasms. A Chi pulse at the Chi position indicates Fire Decline (Mingmen Fire Deficiency), resulting in incontinence of urine and feces; or it may indicate diseases of the waist and feet, with hernia pain radiating to the yin region.
[Combined Pulses] If the Chi pulse is forceful, it indicates Accumulated Cold (Cold accumulation); if it is weak, it indicates Deficient Cold. A Floating-Chi pulse indicates Exterior Cold; a Deep-Chi pulse indicates Interior Cold. A Choppy-Slow pulse indicates Blood Deficiency; a Slow-Relaxed pulse indicates Damp-Cold. A Slippery-Slow pulse indicates Distension and Fullness; a Faint-Slow pulse indicates critical illness and distress.
[Commentary] The meaning of "Chi" refers to sluggishness that fails to achieve harmony. A healthy pulse beats four times per respiration cycle; if it beats only three times, it is considered Chi (Slow) and represents insufficiency. Yin energy tends to stagnate; therefore, in Yin-Cold syndromes, the pulse must manifest as Chi. For example, when the Sun travels through the Southern Land, it passes through the Fire degree and moves quickly; when it travels through the Northern Land, it passes through the Water degree and moves slowly. This illustrates the reasons for the speed variations caused by Yin and Yang. A spurious prescription states: "It can only be felt with heavy pressure," which describes a Shen pulse (Deep Pulse) rather than a Chi pulse. It also states: "The shape is difficult," which describes a Se pulse (Choppy Pulse) rather than a Chi pulse. Three beats per respiration are clearly defined, yet erroneously described as "faint/hidden," which characterizes a Wei pulse (Faint Pulse) rather than a Chi pulse. A Chi pulse that is not smooth is a Se pulse. A Chi pulse with intermittent pauses is a Jie pulse (Knotted Pulse). A Chi pulse that is floating, large, and soft is a Xu pulse (Deficient Pulse). As for Huan pulse (Slow-Relaxed Pulse), it is completely different. Huan pulse derives its name from its broad and relaxed shape, while Chi pulse is defined by its insufficient frequency. Thus, Huan pulse beats four times per respiration, appearing broad, relaxed, and peaceful; Chi pulse beats three times per respiration, appearing sluggish and stagnant. Therefore, these two pulses are distinct and should not be confused. Even Li Binhu (Li Shizhen), known for his profound understanding, stated that "Huan pulse is slightly faster than Chi pulse," discussing Huan pulse based on frequency, which was a lapse in judgment.
Wang Shuhe said: "One beat per exhalation is called Li Jing (Departing from the Normal); two beats per exhalation is called Duo Jing (Loss of Essence); three beats per exhalation is Death; four beats per exhalation is Life Extinction. These are pulses of Damage (Sun). First damage affects the skin and hair; second damage affects the blood vessels; third damage affects the muscles; fourth damage affects the tendons; fifth damage affects the bones." From this, we know that the slower the pulse frequency, the more severe the Yin-Cold pathology.