The four examinations sì zhěn · 四诊

• Wang 望 — looking: complexion, body shape, movement, and above all the tongue.
• Wen 闻 — listening and smelling: voice quality, breathing, cough and odour.
• Wen 问 — asking: a long structured history — sleep, appetite, digestion, temperature preference, pain, emotions, menstrual history.
• Qie 切 — palpating: the pulse at three positions on each wrist, plus the abdomen and channels.

A practitioner is trained to combine all four into one pattern. Any single sign taken alone misleads.