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B2 noun 11 min read

并发症

bìng fā zhèng
Examples 并发症 in 30 Seconds
Explanation 并发症 in your Level:
At the A1 level, '并发症' (bìngfāzhèng) is a very difficult word that you probably won't use. It means 'complication' in a hospital. Think of it like this: You are sick with one thing (like a cold), and then you get a second sickness (like a bad cough that won't stop). That second sickness is a '并发症'. You might hear a doctor say it. If you see it, just remember it has the character '病' (bìng), which means 'sick'. It is a formal word for 'more problems when you are sick'. You don't need to know how to write it yet, but recognizing it in a hospital is helpful. Most A1 learners would just say '我又生病了' (I am sick again) or '更严重了' (It became more serious).
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At the A2 level, you are starting to learn more specific words for health. '并发症' (bìngfāzhèng) is a noun for 'medical complications'. When you go to the doctor, they might talk about risks. If a doctor says '会有并发症' (huì yǒu bìngfāzhèng), it means 'there will be complications'. It is usually used for serious illnesses. You can remember it by breaking it down: '并' (together) + '发' (happen) + '症' (sickness). So, sicknesses that happen together. At this level, you should know that it is a 'bad thing' that happens in a hospital. You might see it on a health poster or in a simple news story about a flu season. It is more formal than just saying '变重了' (became heavier/worse).
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At the B1 level, you should be able to recognize '并发症' in medical contexts and understand its basic function in a sentence. It is a formal noun. You will often see it with verbs like '引起' (yǐnqǐ - to cause) or '预防' (yùfáng - to prevent). For example: '高血压会引起并发症' (High blood pressure can cause complications). You should also know the difference between this and '症状' (zhèngzhuàng - symptom). A symptom is what you feel (like a fever), while a '并发症' is a new medical problem that comes from the first one. You might use this word when explaining a family member's health situation to a friend or professional. It shows you have a higher level of vocabulary than a beginner.
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At the B2 level, you should use '并发症' (bìngfāzhèng) accurately in both speaking and writing. You understand that it is a technical medical term. You can discuss the risks of surgery or the long-term effects of chronic diseases using this word. You should be able to form complex sentences like: '这种手术虽然风险小，但仍可能出现感染等并发症' (Although this surgery has low risk, complications like infection may still occur). You are also aware that it is different from '副作用' (side effects) and '后遗症' (sequelae). This word is essential for reading Chinese newspapers or watching health programs on TV, as medical topics are very common in Chinese media. You should also be comfortable with the measure word '种' (zhǒng) when listing different complications.
At the C1 level, you have a nuanced understanding of '并发症'. You can use it in professional, academic, or high-level social discussions. You might encounter it in medical journals or legal documents regarding medical malpractice. You understand how it fits into the broader 'pathophysiology' of a disease. You can also recognize its rare metaphorical use in socio-economic contexts, where a secondary problem arises from a primary issue. Your usage should be precise, often modifying it with technical terms like '心血管并发症' (cardiovascular complications) or '术后并发症' (post-operative complications). You can discuss the 'incidence rate' (发生率) of complications and the clinical strategies used to mitigate them. You are also sensitive to the formal register of the word.
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At the C2 level, '并发症' is a word you use with native-like precision. You can distinguish between '并发症' and highly specific terms like '共病' (comorbidity) or '伴随疾病' (concomitant disease). You are capable of reading complex medical literature in Chinese where '并发症' is a key variable in statistical analysis. You can engage in deep discussions about the ethical implications of medical complications and the healthcare system's responsibility. You might also use the word in sophisticated metaphors in literature or high-level journalism to describe systemic failures. Your grasp of the word includes its historical development in Chinese medical terminology and its role in both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine discourses.
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Examples

并发症 in 30 Seconds

  • 并发症 (bìngfāzhèng) means 'complication' in a medical context.
  • It is a formal noun used for secondary illnesses arising from primary ones.
  • Commonly paired with verbs like 'cause', 'prevent', and 'monitor'.
  • Essential for understanding medical risks and chronic disease management.

The Chinese term 并发症 (bìngfāzhèng) is a formal medical noun that translates directly to 'complication' in English. It describes a secondary disease or condition that develops during the course of a primary illness or following a medical procedure, such as surgery. In a clinical context, it signifies that the patient's health situation has become more complex and potentially more dangerous because a new problem has emerged from the original one. The term is composed of three characters: 并 (bìng) meaning 'simultaneous' or 'together', 发 (fā) meaning 'to occur' or 'to break out', and 症 (zhèng) meaning 'disease' or 'symptom'. Together, they literally describe 'diseases that occur simultaneously' with an existing condition.

Clinical Significance
In healthcare, identifying a 并发症 is critical for prognosis. Doctors use this word when explaining risks to patients before surgery or when monitoring chronic diseases like diabetes, where high blood sugar can lead to kidney or eye complications.

长期糖尿病如果不加控制，可能会导致严重的并发症，如视网膜病变。 (If long-term diabetes is not controlled, it may lead to serious complications, such as retinopathy.)

People use this word most frequently in professional medical settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and in health-related news reports. However, it is also a common part of the general vocabulary for any educated adult. When a family member is in the hospital, you might hear a doctor say, '我们要预防术后并发症' (We need to prevent post-operative complications). It carries a heavy, serious tone, implying that the situation requires careful management to avoid a worsening of the patient's state.

医生正在全力处理患者的肺部并发症。 (The doctor is doing their best to handle the patient's pulmonary complications.)

Register
Formal and Precise. It is the standard term in medical charts and professional diagnoses.

Understanding this word is essential for anyone navigating the Chinese healthcare system or reading scientific literature. It allows you to distinguish between the primary cause of illness and the secondary issues that arise from it. For example, in the case of the flu, pneumonia is a common '并发症'. The word helps categorize the progression of a disease and the focus of medical intervention.

由于手术非常成功，病人没有出现任何并发症。 (Because the surgery was very successful, the patient did not experience any complications.)

Usage Warning
Do not confuse this with 'side effects' (副作用). A side effect is a direct result of a drug, whereas a complication is a new disease state arising from the primary condition or treatment process.

高血压患者应定期检查，以防心血管并发症。 (Patients with high blood pressure should have regular check-ups to prevent cardiovascular complications.)

这种新型药物能有效降低术后感染这种并发症的概率。 (This new drug can effectively reduce the probability of complications such as post-operative infection.)

Using 并发症 (bìngfāzhèng) correctly requires placing it in a medical or physiological framework. It functions as a noun and is frequently the object of verbs like '导致' (dǎozhì - to lead to), '引起' (yǐnqǐ - to cause), '预防' (yùfáng - to prevent), or '出现' (chūxiàn - to appear/emerge). Because it is a formal term, the surrounding vocabulary usually matches this level of formality.

Common Verb Pairings
1. 引起并发症 (Cause complications)
2. 监测并发症 (Monitor complications)
3. 减少并发症 (Reduce complications)
4. 治疗并发症 (Treat complications)

医生警告说，肥胖会增加手术后出现并发症的风险。 (The doctor warned that obesity increases the risk of complications after surgery.)

In sentence construction, '并发症' is often preceded by an adjective or a modifying noun phrase that specifies the type or severity of the complication. For example, '严重的并发症' (serious complications), '常见的并发症' (common complications), or '心血管并发症' (cardiovascular complications). This structure allows for precise medical communication.

Specific Contexts
In clinical trials, researchers might write: '本研究旨在评估该疗法对减少长期并发症的效果' (This study aims to evaluate the effect of the therapy on reducing long-term complications).

虽然手术本身很成功，但患者在恢复期间不幸出现了肾脏并发症。 (Although the surgery itself was successful, the patient unfortunately developed kidney complications during recovery.)

When talking about chronic diseases, the word is indispensable. You will often see the pattern '[Disease] 的并发症'. For instance, '艾滋病的并发症' (complications of AIDS). This emphasizes that the secondary condition is inextricably linked to the primary one. It is also common to use the measure word '种' (zhǒng) or '项' (xiàng) when referring to different types of complications.

为了预防并发症，病人必须严格遵守医嘱并按时服药。 (To prevent complications, the patient must strictly follow the doctor's orders and take medication on time.)

In more advanced usage, you might encounter the term in discussions about public health policy, such as '降低并发症发生率' (lowering the incidence rate of complications). Here, it acts as part of a complex noun phrase. The ability to use this word correctly marks a transition from basic conversational Chinese to professional or academic proficiency.

这种手术的并发症极少，因此被广泛推荐给老年患者。 (The complications of this surgery are very few, so it is widely recommended for elderly patients.)

The '并发' Verb Form
Sometimes you will see '并发' used as a verb meaning 'to occur simultaneously with'. For example: '感冒常并发支气管炎' (Common cold is often complicated by bronchitis).

如果伤口处理不当，可能会引发严重的感染及其他并发症。 (If the wound is not treated properly, it may lead to serious infection and other complications.)

You will encounter 并发症 (bìngfāzhèng) in several distinct environments, each providing a different nuance to its use. The primary location is, of course, the medical world. If you are in a hospital in China, you will see this word on posters about disease prevention, hear it during doctor-patient consultations, and read it on medical consent forms before undergoing a procedure.

In the Hospital
Doctors use it to manage expectations. '任何手术都有风险，包括麻醉并发症' (Any surgery has risks, including anesthesia complications). It is used to be legally and professionally thorough.

在重症监护室，医生必须时刻警惕多器官功能衰竭等并发症。 (In the ICU, doctors must always be alert for complications such as multi-organ failure.)

Secondly, the word is ubiquitous in health and wellness media. Chinese news outlets like CCTV or platforms like WeChat often feature articles on '如何预防糖尿病并发症' (How to prevent diabetes complications). Since chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes are prevalent in China's aging population, this word has entered the daily vocabulary of many families who are caring for elderly relatives.

新闻报道称，该流感病毒对患有基础疾病的人群极易引发严重的并发症。 (News reports say that the influenza virus is highly likely to cause serious complications in people with underlying diseases.)

Pharmaceutical Labels
When you buy medicine in China, the instruction leaflet (说明书) will list '禁忌症' (contraindications) and sometimes mention '并发症' in the section regarding long-term use or potential interactions.

Thirdly, you will hear it in academic and educational settings. Medical students and biology researchers use '并发症' to discuss the pathophysiology of diseases. In these contexts, the word is paired with high-level technical terms. For instance, '研究表明，该蛋白质的缺失与多种神经系统并发症有关' (Research shows that the lack of this protein is related to various neurological complications).

作为一名医生，我最担心的不是手术本身，而是术后的感染性并发症。 (As a doctor, what I worry about most is not the surgery itself, but the infectious complications after surgery.)

Lastly, while rare, you might hear a metaphorical use in political or social commentary to describe a problem that arises from a primary policy or social issue. For example, '失业率上升是经济危机的并发症之一' (The rising unemployment rate is one of the complications of the economic crisis). However, this is quite literary and less common than the literal medical usage.

虽然他已经退烧了，但我们仍需观察是否会有其他并发症出现。 (Although his fever has subsided, we still need to observe whether other complications will appear.)

Learners of Chinese often struggle with 并发症 (bìngfāzhèng) because it overlaps with several other medical terms. The most frequent error is confusing it with 副作用 (fùzuòyòng), which means 'side effect'. While both are undesirable secondary outcomes, they have different origins. A 'side effect' is caused by a drug or treatment (e.g., a headache after taking medicine), whereas a 'complication' is a new disease that arises from the original illness or the body's reaction to surgery.

Mistake 1: Confusing with Side Effects
Incorrect: 这个药有很多并发症 (This medicine has many complications).
Correct: 这个药有很多副作用 (This medicine has many side effects).
Rationale: Drugs cause side effects; diseases cause complications.

不要把药物的副作用和疾病的并发症混为一谈。 (Don't confuse the side effects of drugs with the complications of a disease.)

Another common mistake is confusing '并发症' with 后遗症 (hòuyízhèng), which means 'sequelae' or 'after-effects'. A complication happens *during* or *immediately after* the illness, often while the primary disease is still active. An 'after-effect' (后遗症) is a permanent or long-term condition that remains *after* the primary disease has been cured or stabilized. For example, a scar is an after-effect; pneumonia during the flu is a complication.

Mistake 2: Confusing with After-effects
Incorrect: 他感冒好了，但留下了肺炎这个并发症 (His cold is better, but it left pneumonia as a complication).
Correct: 他感冒时引起了肺炎并发症 (He developed pneumonia as a complication while he had a cold).

中风后可能会留下言语障碍等后遗症，但这不叫并发症。 (Stroke may leave after-effects like speech impairment, but this is not called a complication.)

A third mistake involves the character 症 (zhèng). Some learners confuse it with 症状 (zhèngzhuàng), which means 'symptom'. A symptom is a sign of a disease (like a cough), whereas a complication is a whole new disease entity. You might say '咳嗽是感冒的症状' (Coughing is a symptom of a cold), but you wouldn't call it a '并发症' unless it developed into something more serious like bronchitis.

发烧只是一个症状，但如果持续不退，可能会引发更严重的并发症。 (Fever is just a symptom, but if it persists, it may lead to more serious complications.)

Lastly, avoid using '并发症' in casual, non-medical settings unless you are deliberately using a metaphor. If you want to say 'The traffic jam was a complication in our travel plans', using '并发症' would sound very strange and overly clinical. Stick to '麻烦' (máfan - trouble) or '变数' (biànshù - variable/change) for daily life issues.

请记住，并发症是一个严谨的医学术语。 (Please remember that 'complication' is a strict medical term.)

To master the use of 并发症 (bìngfāzhèng), it's helpful to compare it with related medical and general terms. This helps you choose the most precise word for the context.

1. 副作用 (fùzuòyòng) - Side Effect
Focuses on the unintended effects of a drug or treatment. It is usually predictable and listed on the medicine bottle.
Example: 这个药的副作用是嗜睡。 (The side effect of this medicine is drowsiness.)
2. 后遗症 (hòuyízhèng) - Sequelae / After-effects
Refers to conditions that remain after the primary disease has passed. It emphasizes the lasting legacy of an illness.
Example: 小儿麻痹症可能会留下肢体残疾的后遗症。 (Polio may leave the after-effect of physical disability.)

医生必须区分患者目前的状况是并发症还是药物的副作用。 (Doctors must distinguish whether the patient's current condition is a complication or a side effect of the drug.)

3. 伴随症状 (bànsuí zhèngzhuàng) - Accompanying Symptoms
These are symptoms that naturally occur along with the main disease but aren't necessarily separate diseases themselves.
Example: 头痛是感冒的伴随症状。 (Headache is an accompanying symptom of a cold.)
4. 继发感染 (jìfā gǎnrǎn) - Secondary Infection
A specific type of complication where a new infection occurs because the body was weakened by the first illness.
Example: 病毒感染后常会出现细菌性的继发感染。 (Bacterial secondary infections often occur after a viral infection.)

在某些情况下，并发症比原发病更难治疗。 (In some cases, complications are harder to treat than the primary disease.)

If you are looking for non-medical alternatives to express the idea of things getting complicated, consider using 纠纷 (jiūfēn) for legal/interpersonal disputes, or 波折 (bōzhé) for twists and turns in a story or plan. These words capture the 'complication' aspect of English without the clinical baggage of '并发症'.

为了减少并发症，医疗团队制定了详尽的护理计划。 (To reduce complications, the medical team developed a detailed care plan.)

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Examples by Level

1

医生说，他有并发症。

The doctor said he has complications.

Simple Subject + Verb + Object structure.

2

什么是并发症？

What is a complication?

Basic question structure.

3

我不想要并发症。

I don't want complications.

Negative '不' + '想要'.

4

并发症很危险。

Complications are very dangerous.

Noun + Adverb '很' + Adjective.

5

他因为并发症住院了。

He was hospitalized because of complications.

Using '因为' to show cause.

6

这里有并发症的药吗？

Is there medicine for complications here?

Question with '吗'.

7

并发症多吗？

Are there many complications?

Adjective '多' used as a predicate.

8

看，这是并发症。

Look, this is a complication.

Imperative '看' + '这是'.

1

感冒可能会引起并发症。

A cold might cause complications.

Using '可能会' to show possibility.

2

手术后没有并发症。

There were no complications after the surgery.

'没有' used for non-existence.

3

这种病有很多并发症。

This disease has many complications.

'很多' modifying the noun.

4

医生在预防并发症。

The doctor is preventing complications.

Present continuous with '在'.

5

并发症让他很难受。

The complications made him feel very uncomfortable.

Causative '让' structure.

6

我们要小心并发症。

We need to be careful of complications.

'要' for necessity + '小心'.

7

并发症是什么时候出现的？

When did the complications appear?

'什么时候' for time question.

8

他没有严重的并发症。

He doesn't have serious complications.

Adjective '严重' modifying '并发症'.

1

如果不好好休息，感冒会转为严重的并发症。

If you don't rest well, a cold will turn into serious complications.

Conditional '如果...会...' structure.

2

为了减少并发症，病人需要按时吃药。

To reduce complications, the patient needs to take medicine on time.

Purpose clause with '为了'.

3

这种手术最常见的并发症是感染。

The most common complication of this surgery is infection.

Superlative '最' + Adjective.

4

医生详细解释了可能出现的并发症。

The doctor explained the possible complications in detail.

Adverbial '详细' + Verb.

5

糖尿病患者必须注意足部并发症。

Diabetes patients must pay attention to foot complications.

Noun as modifier: '足部' + '并发症'.

6

他正在接受关于并发症的治疗。

He is receiving treatment for complications.

'关于' used as a preposition.

7

我们不能忽视任何小的并发症。

We cannot ignore any small complications.

'不能' + '忽视' (cannot ignore).

8

并发症的出现让治疗变得更加复杂。

The appearance of complications makes the treatment more complex.

Subject clause + '让' + '变得'.

1

高龄产妇在分娩过程中更容易出现并发症。

Elderly parturients are more likely to have complications during childbirth.

'更容易' showing comparative probability.

2

这种新药能有效预防心脏病引发的并发症。

This new medicine can effectively prevent complications caused by heart disease.

'有效' as an adverb.

3

术后并发症的发生率在近年来有所下降。

The incidence of post-operative complications has decreased in recent years.

'有所' + Verb (indicates a degree of change).

4

医生正在评估患者出现肺部并发症的风险。

The doctor is assessing the patient's risk of pulmonary complications.

Verb '评估' + Complex Object.

5

由于处理及时，患者并未出现预期的并发症。

Due to timely treatment, the patient did not experience the expected complications.

'并未' (formal for 'did not').

6

长期服用此药可能会导致肾脏方面的并发症。

Long-term use of this drug may lead to kidney-related complications.

'...方面的' used for categorization.

7

该病症的并发症往往比原发病更难治愈。

The complications of this condition are often harder to cure than the primary disease.

'比' comparison structure.

8

为了防止并发症，医生建议进行全面的身体检查。

To prevent complications, the doctor recommends a comprehensive physical examination.

'建议' followed by a clause.

1

临床数据显示，该疗法能显著降低多器官并发症的致死率。

Clinical data shows that this therapy can significantly reduce the mortality rate of multi-organ complications.

Formal academic vocabulary: '显著', '致死率'.

2

医生在告知患者风险时，必须涵盖所有潜在的并发症。

When informing patients of risks, doctors must cover all potential complications.

Modal '必须' + '涵盖' (must cover/include).

3

这种罕见病的并发症通常涉及神经系统的退行性病变。

Complications of this rare disease usually involve degenerative changes in the nervous system.

'涉及' (involve) used in a formal context.

4

术后并发症的早期干预对于患者的康复至关重要。

Early intervention for post-operative complications is crucial for patient recovery.

'对于...至关重要' (crucial for...).

5

该研究探讨了环境因素与慢性病并发症之间的关联。

The study explored the association between environmental factors and complications of chronic diseases.

'探讨...与...之间的关联'.

6

若不采取有效措施，这些并发症可能会演变成不可逆的损伤。

If effective measures are not taken, these complications may evolve into irreversible damage.

Formal conditional '若' (if).

7

患者的免疫系统受损是引发继发性并发症的主要诱因。

The patient's compromised immune system is the main trigger for secondary complications.

Noun phrase as subject + '是' + Noun phrase as predicate.

8

我们需要一套完善的监测系统来实时追踪并发症的迹象。

We need a comprehensive monitoring system to track signs of complications in real-time.

'一套' as a measure word for a system.

1

在复杂的临床决策中，平衡手术收益与潜在并发症风险是一项巨大的挑战。

In complex clinical decision-making, balancing surgical benefits against the risk of potential complications is a massive challenge.

Gerund-like phrase as a subject: '平衡...与...'.

2

该病理过程不仅限于原发部位，往往伴随着全身性的并发症。

The pathological process is not limited to the primary site and is often accompanied by systemic complications.

'不仅限于...往往伴随着...'.

3

尽管现代医学取得了长足进步，但某些顽固性并发症依然困扰着医学界。

Despite great progress in modern medicine, certain recalcitrant complications still plague the medical community.

Concessive '尽管...但...' with high-level adjectives.

4

对并发症发生机制的深入研究，为开发靶向药物提供了理论依据。

In-depth research into the mechanism of complications provides a theoretical basis for developing targeted drugs.

Abstract noun phrase '对...的研究'.

5

在某些极端病例中，并发症的连锁反应可能导致患者迅速衰竭。

In some extreme cases, a chain reaction of complications can lead to rapid patient failure.

Metaphorical use of '连锁反应' (chain reaction).

6

这种疗法的副作用虽小，但其诱发的罕见并发症却不容小觑。

Although the side effects of this therapy are minor, the rare complications it induces should not be underestimated.

'不容小觑' (not to be underestimated) - high-level idiom.

7

医疗纠纷的焦点往往集中在医生是否尽到了告知并发症风险的义务。

The focus of medical disputes often centers on whether the doctor fulfilled the duty to inform about the risk of complications.

Complex nominalization of the 'focus' of a dispute.

8

通过大数据分析，我们可以更精准地预测特定人群出现并发症的概率。

Through big data analysis, we can more accurately predict the probability of complications in specific populations.

Prepositional phrase '通过...' + Adverbial '更精准地'.

Common Collocations

引起并发症
预防并发症
术后并发症
严重的并发症
常见的并发症
多器官并发症
出现并发症
降低并发症风险
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Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

complications English
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