脉者，气血之先也。气血盛则脉盛，气血衰则脉衰；气血热则脉数，气血寒则脉迟；气血微则脉弱，气
血平则脉治。又长人脉长；短人脉短；性急人脉急，性缓人脉缓。左大顺男，右大顺女。男子尺脉常弱，女
子尺脉常盛。此皆其常也，反之者逆。
左手寸口，心、小肠脉所出；左关肝、胆脉所出，左尺肾、膀胱脉所出。（命门与肾脉通。）
右寸肺、大肠脉所出；右关脾、胃脉所出；右尺三焦、心包络脉所出。
心脉浮大而散，肺脉浮涩而短，肝脉弦而长，脾脉缓而大，肾脉沉而软滑。
心合血脉，心脉循血脉而行，持脉指法如六菽之重。按至血脉而得者为浮，稍稍加力脉道粗者为
大，又稍加力脉道阔软者为散。
肺合皮毛，肺脉循皮毛而行，持脉指法如三菽之重。按至皮毛而得者为浮，稍稍加力脉道不利为涩，
又稍加力不及本位曰短。
肝合筋，肝脉循筋而行，持脉指法如十二菽之重。按至筋而脉道如筝弦相似，稍加力脉道迢迢者为长。
脾合肌肉，脾脉循肌肉而行，持脉指法如九菽之重。按至肌肉如微风轻 柳梢之状为缓，次稍加力
脉道敦实者为大。
肾合骨，肾脉循骨而行，持脉指法按至骨上而得
者为沉，次重以按之脉道无力者为软，举指来疾流利者为滑。
凡此五脏平脉，要须察之久久成熟，一遇病脉，自然可晓。经曰∶先识经脉，而后识病脉。此之谓也。
脉，是气血运行状态的首要反映。气血旺盛则脉象盛大，气血衰弱则脉象微弱；气血有热则脉率快（数），气血有寒则脉率慢（迟）；气血微少则脉象虚弱，气血平和则脉象正常（治）。另外，身材高大的人脉长，身材矮小的人脉短；性情急躁的人脉势急迫，性情温和的人脉势舒缓。左手脉象大于右手，符合男性的生理常态；右手脉象大于左手，符合女性的生理常态。男子尺部脉象通常较弱，女子尺部脉象通常较强。这些都是正常的脉象规律，反之则为异常（逆）。
左手寸口部位，是心与小肠经脉气所出之处；左关部位，是肝与胆经脉气所出之处；左尺部位，是肾与膀胱经脉气所出之处。（命门与肾脉相通。）
右手寸口部位，是肺与大肠经脉气所出之处；右关部位，是脾与胃经脉气所出之处；右尺部位，是三焦与心包络经脉气所出之处。
心的平脉表现为浮大而散，肺的平脉表现为浮涩而短，肝的平脉表现为弦而长，脾的平脉表现为缓而大，肾的平脉表现为沉而软滑。
心主血脉，心脉沿血脉运行，诊察心脉时指力应如六颗大豆的重量。轻按至血脉层面而能触及者为浮脉，稍稍加重指力感觉脉道粗大者为大脉，再稍加重指力感觉脉道宽阔柔软者为散脉。
肺主皮毛，肺脉沿皮毛运行，诊察肺脉时指力应如三颗大豆的重量。轻按至皮毛层面而能触及者为浮脉，稍稍加重指力感觉脉道不畅为涩脉，再稍加重指力但未达本位感觉脉道短缩者为短脉。
肝主筋，肝脉沿筋脉运行，诊察肝脉时指力应如十二颗大豆的重量。按至筋层感觉脉道像筝弦一样紧绷者为弦脉，稍加重指力感觉脉道悠长者者为长脉。
脾主肌肉，脾脉沿肌肉运行，诊察脾脉时指力应如九颗大豆的重量。按至肌肉层感觉像微风中轻轻摇曳的柳梢般柔和者为缓脉，次之稍加重指力感觉脉道敦实者为大脉。
肾主骨，肾脉沿骨骼运行，诊察肾脉时重按至骨上而能触及者为沉脉，再次加重指力感觉脉道无力者为软脉，抬起手指时脉搏来势疾速流利者为滑脉。
以上五脏的平脉，必须经过长期细致的观察才能熟练掌握，一旦遇到病脉，自然就能辨识清楚。医经说：“先认识平脉（正常脉象），然后才能识别病脉。”说的就是这个道理。
The pulse is the precursor of Qi and Blood. When Qi and Blood are abundant, the pulse is vigorous; when Qi and Blood are deficient, the pulse is weak. When Qi and Blood are hot, the pulse is rapid (Shu); when Qi and Blood are cold, the pulse is slow (Chi). When Qi and Blood are minute, the pulse is feeble; when Qi and Blood are balanced, the pulse is normal (Zhi). Furthermore, tall people have long pulses, and short people have short pulses; those with impatient temperaments have urgent pulses, and those with calm temperaments have relaxed pulses. A larger pulse on the left side conforms to the male norm, while a larger pulse on the right side conforms to the female norm. In men, the Chi position pulse is typically weak, whereas in women, the Chi position pulse is typically strong. These are all considered normal patterns; deviations from these norms are considered adverse (Ni).
The Cun Kou position on the left hand is where the Heart and Small Intestine meridians emerge; the Guan position on the left hand is where the Liver and Gallbladder meridians emerge; the Chi position on the left hand is where the Kidney and Bladder meridians emerge. (The Mingmen [Gate of Life] connects with the Kidney pulse.)
The Cun Kou position on the right hand is where the Lung and Large Intestine meridians emerge; the Guan position on the right hand is where the Spleen and Stomach meridians emerge; the Chi position on the right hand is where the Sanjiao [Triple Burner] and Pericardium meridians emerge.
The normal pulse of the Heart is floating, large, and scattered; the normal pulse of the Lung is floating, choppy, and short; the normal pulse of the Liver is wiry and long; the normal pulse of the Spleen is moderate and large; the normal pulse of the Kidney is deep, soft, and slippery.
The Heart governs the blood vessels, and its pulse travels along the blood vessels. The finger pressure for palpating the Heart pulse should be equivalent to the weight of six beans. Pressing lightly until the vessel layer is reached indicates a Floating pulse (Fu); slightly increasing pressure to feel a coarse vessel channel indicates a Large pulse (Da); further increasing pressure to feel a broad and soft vessel channel indicates a Scattered pulse (San).
The Lung governs the skin and hair, and its pulse travels along the skin and hair. The finger pressure for palpating the Lung pulse should be equivalent to the weight of three beans. Pressing lightly until the skin layer is reached indicates a Floating pulse (Fu); slightly increasing pressure to feel an obstructed vessel channel indicates a Choppy pulse (Se); further increasing pressure without reaching the root level, feeling a shortened vessel channel, indicates a Short pulse (Duan).
The Liver governs the sinews, and its pulse travels along the sinews. The finger pressure for palpating the Liver pulse should be equivalent to the weight of twelve beans. Pressing down to the sinew layer, feeling the vessel channel taut like a zither string, indicates a Wiry pulse (Xian); slightly increasing pressure to feel a distant and continuous vessel channel indicates a Long pulse (Chang).
The Spleen governs the muscles, and its pulse travels along the muscles. The finger pressure for palpating the Spleen pulse should be equivalent to the weight of nine beans. Pressing down to the muscle layer, feeling the vessel channel gentle like willow branches swaying in a light breeze, indicates a Moderate pulse (Huan); slightly increasing pressure to feel a solid and substantial vessel channel indicates a Large pulse (Da).
The Kidney governs the bones, and its pulse travels along the bones. Heavy pressing until the bone surface is reached indicates a Deep pulse (Chen); further heavy pressing to feel a powerless vessel channel indicates a Soft pulse (Ruan); lifting the fingers to feel a swift and smooth return of the pulse indicates a Slippery pulse (Hua).
Regarding these five Zang organs' normal pulses, one must observe them carefully over a long period to achieve proficiency. Once pathological pulses arise, they can be naturally understood. The classics state: "First recognize the normal pulse, then recognize the pathological pulse." This is what is meant.