Translating "曲澤", acupuncture point P-3
The reasoning for translating "曲澤" as "Marsh at the Bend" from Chinese into English. This is the original name of acupuncture point P-3 (Pericardium 3).
Explanation of the point name
The skin and underlying structures seem like a marsh, located on the elbow, and the elbow is seldom straight. This point is also best located with the elbow bent.
The three 澤 'marsh' points (LU-5, SI-1, P-3) have in common that there's softer, moist tissue next to harder tissue. With LU-5 and P-3, that harder tissue is the tendon in the middle of the elbow crease, with SI-1, it's the nail. That's also characteristic for a marsh, that it's a mixture of soft and moist mud, with harder plant material and firmer ground.
There are three points that are located near the middle joint of a limb, and have 曲 'bend' in their name, with a water. Those are LI-11 曲池 'Pond at the Bend' and P-3 曲澤 'Marsh at the Bend' near the elbow, and LIV-8 曲泉 'Spring at the Bend' near the knee.
1st character
Meaning
When 曲 is used to describe anatomical structures, the words 'bent' or 'curve' rather than 'crooked' have my preference. 'Crooked' would suggest that something is not quite right about it, so I only use that when 曲 describes something abnormal.
Point names with 曲
For consistency in the translations, it is necessary to be aware of how the character is translated elsewhere. These are the point names it is in.
| LI-11 | 曲池 | Pond at the Bend |
| SI-13 | 曲垣 | Fence at the Curve |
| BL-4 | 曲差 | Uneven Curve |
| KI-17 | 商曲 | Crooked Exchanges |
| P-3 | 曲澤 | Marsh at the Bend |
| GB-7 | 曲鬢 | Curve of the Hair on the Temples |
| LIV-8 | 曲泉 | Spring at the Bend |
| REN-2 | 曲骨 | Curved Bone |
2nd character
Point names with 澤
For consistency in the translations, it is necessary to be aware of how the character is translated elsewhere. These are the point names it is in.
| LU-5 | 尺澤 | Cubit Marsh |
| SI-1 | 少澤 | Smallest Marsh |
| P-3 | 曲澤 | Marsh at the Bend |
Nearby points
Sometimes the names of consecutive points on a meridian are related. Being aware of nearby points can help to translate consistently in such a situation.
| KI-27 | 兪府 | Increase of Authority |
| P-1 | 天池 | Heavenly Pond |
| P-2 | 天泉 | Heavenly Spring |
| P-3 | 曲澤 | Marsh at the Bend |
| P-4 | 郄門 | Gate Ajar |
| P-5 | 間使 | Using the Pause |
| P-6 | 內關 | Barrier Gate to the Inside |