bìng

illness

HSK 1

Character Breakdown

Understanding (bìng)

The character primarily means "illness," "sickness," or "disease." It is commonly used to describe physical or mental health conditions that cause discomfort or require medical attention.

Common Uses

  1. Describing being sick: 生病 (shēngbìng) means "to fall ill." This is a very common phrase used when someone is unwell.
  2. Talking about diseases: can refer to specific diseases or illnesses, often in medical contexts.
  3. Describing symptoms or states related to illness, such as weakness or fatigue.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 生病 (shēngbìng): to get sick
  • 病人 (bìngrén): patient
  • 病情 (bìngqíng): condition of the illness
  • (débìng): to contract a disease

Usage Notes

When using , it often appears in compound words or phrases rather than alone. For example, 生病 is more natural than just saying to mean "to be sick." Also, can be used in both casual and formal contexts, but in formal medical contexts, it often appears in compounds.

Avoid confusing with (jí), which also means disease but is more formal and less common in everyday speech.

Example Sentences

他因为感冒生病了,今天没去上班。

Tā yīnwèi gǎnmào shēngbìng le, jīntiān méi qù shàngbān.

He got sick because of a cold and didn't go to work today.

这个病很难治,需要长期服药。

Zhège bìng hěn nán zhì, xūyào chángqī fúyào.

This disease is hard to cure and requires long-term medication.

他生病了,身体很虚弱。

Tā shēngbìng le, shēntǐ hěn xūruò.

He is sick and his body is very weak.