‘触觉’ (chù jué) literally combines ‘触’ (to touch, contact) and ‘觉’ (perception, awareness), meaning the physiological sense that allows humans and animals to detect pressure, temperature, pain, and texture through skin contact. It is one of the five traditional senses—alongside sight, hearing, taste, and smell—and plays a vital role in spatial awareness, safety, and early development.

This term is used formally in medical, psychological, and educational contexts—for example, when discussing sensory processing disorders, infant development milestones, or tactile learning tools. While everyday speech may use simpler phrases like ‘摸起来的感觉’ (how something feels to the touch), ‘触觉’ appears in textbooks, clinical reports, and scientific discussions as the standard technical term for the sense of touch.