pronunciation - 血: xuè , xiě, whats the difference? - Chinese Language . . . There are several exceptions: the two modifiers 血糊糊 (xiěhūhū, "covered in blood") and 血淋淋 (xiělínlín, "gushing blood") are never read with the xuè pronunciation There is also a word "血晕" the meaning of which differs based on which pronunciation of 血 is used 血晕 (xiěyùn): to bruise