Understanding "疾病" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 疾病
• Pinyin: jí bìng
• Literal Meaning: "疾" (jí) means "sickness" or "quick," and "病" (bìng) means "illness" or "disease." Together, they emphasize the concept of illness.
• Primary Meaning: "Disease" or "illness" (refers to medical conditions, either acute or chronic).

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage:
• "疾病" is a formal term used in medical, scientific, or general contexts to refer to diseases or illnesses. It can describe both physical and mental health conditions.
• Unlike colloquial terms like "生病" (shēng bìng, "to fall ill"), "疾病" is more clinical and often appears in written or professional language.

• Nuance: It carries a neutral to serious tone, so it’s not typically used for minor ailments like a cold (感冒, gǎn mào).

• Character Breakdown:

• 疾 (jí): Originally depicted an arrow wound (quick-onset sickness), now means "disease" or "fast."
• 病 (bìng): Represents a general concept of illness, often implying a longer-term or chronic condition.

3. Example Sentences

1. Chinese: 这种疾病可以通过疫苗预防。
   Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng jíbìng kěyǐ tōngguò yìmiáo yùfáng.
   English: This disease can be prevented by vaccines.

2. Chinese: 长期的压力可能导致心理疾病。
   Pinyin: Chángqī de yālì kěnéng dǎozhì xīnlǐ jíbìng.
   English: Long-term stress may lead to mental illnesses.

3. Chinese: 医生正在研究治疗这种疾病的新方法。
   Pinyin: Yīshēng zhèngzài yánjiū zhìliáo zhè zhǒng jíbìng de xīn fāngfǎ.
   English: Doctors are researching new methods to treat this disease.

Cultural Notes

• In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), "疾病" is often viewed as an imbalance of bodily systems (e.g., yin-yang or qi), not just a physical symptom.
• Modern China emphasizes public health campaigns (e.g., "预防疾病," yùfáng jíbìng, "disease prevention") due to past epidemics like SARS.

Conclusion

"疾病" (jí bìng) is a formal term for "disease" or "illness," combining the characters for acute (疾) and chronic (病) conditions. Use it in medical or serious contexts, and remember its neutral-to-serious tone. Practice with the examples to master its usage!