疾病 in 30 Seconds
- Formal noun for 'disease' or 'illness'.
- Used in medical, academic, and professional contexts.
- Often paired with verbs like 'prevent' (预防) and 'treat' (治疗).
- Covers both physical and mental health conditions.
The term 疾病 (jíbìng) is a formal and comprehensive noun used in Chinese to describe a state of ill health, a specific medical condition, or a pathological process affecting an organism. Unlike the simpler word '病' (bìng), which can be used colloquially to mean 'sick' or 'illness,' 疾病 carries a more clinical and technical weight, often used in medical, academic, and formal contexts to refer to diseases as a category or specific entities like 'infectious diseases' or 'chronic diseases'.
- Etymological Root
- The character 疾 (jí) originally depicted an arrow hitting a person, signifying a sudden or sharp ailment. The character 病 (bìng) refers to a more generalized state of being unwell. Together, they form a robust term for 'disease'.
- Grammatical Function
- It functions strictly as a noun. You cannot '疾病' someone, but you can 'prevent 疾病' or 'treat 疾病'.
- Scope of Use
- It covers everything from the common cold to complex genetic disorders, though it is rarely used for minor temporary discomforts in casual speech.
预防疾病比治疗更重要。 (Yùfáng jíbìng bǐ zhìliáo gèng zhòngyào.)
— Prevention of disease is more important than cure.
这种疾病在热带地区很常见。 (Zhè zhǒng jíbìng zài rèdài dìqū hěn chángjiàn.)
— This disease is very common in tropical regions.
科学家正在研究这种罕见疾病。 (Kēxuéjiā zhèngzài yánjiū zhè zhǒng hǎnjiàn jíbìng.)
— Scientists are currently researching this rare disease.
心理疾病同样需要得到重视。 (Xīnlǐ jíbìng tóngyàng xūyào dédào zhòngshì.)
— Mental illnesses also need to be taken seriously.
慢性疾病需要长期的管理。 (Mànxìng jíbìng xūyào chángqī de guǎnlǐ.)
— Chronic diseases require long-term management.
Using 疾病 correctly requires understanding its formal register. It is a countable noun, often paired with the classifier 种 (zhǒng) or 类 (lèi). It is rarely used as a verb; instead, you use verbs like 患 (huàn - to suffer from) or 染 (rǎn - to contract) before it.
Common Structures
- [Adjective] + 疾病: 传染性疾病 (infectious disease), 遗传性疾病 (genetic disease), 职业疾病 (occupational disease).
- 患有 + [Specific] + 疾病: To suffer from a [specific] disease.
- 疾病的 + [Noun]: 疾病的症状 (symptoms of the disease), 疾病的爆发 (outbreak of the disease).
In professional writing, such as medical journals or news reports, 疾病 is the standard term. For example, 'The World Health Organization' is '世界卫生组织' (Shìjiè Wèishēng Zǔzhī), and they deal with '全球性疾病' (global diseases).
Contextual Example:
'随着生活水平的提高，一些富贵疾病也随之增加。' (With the improvement of living standards, some 'diseases of affluence' have also increased.)
When discussing the social impact, you might say '疾病给家庭带来了沉重的经济负担' (Disease has brought a heavy economic burden to the family). Here, 疾病 represents the abstract concept of illness as a force.
You will encounter 疾病 in several specific environments:
- Hospitals and Clinics: Doctors use it when explaining a diagnosis or discussing pathology. You'll see it on posters about '疾病预防' (disease prevention).
- News and Media: During health crises (like a pandemic), news anchors will frequently use '传染性疾病' (infectious diseases) or '疾病控制中心' (CDC - Center for Disease Control).
- Academic and Educational Settings: Biology or medicine students will use this term exclusively over the more colloquial '病'.
- Insurance and Legal Documents: Health insurance policies will list '重大疾病' (critical illnesses) that are covered under the plan.
Imagine walking into a pharmacy in Beijing; you might see a section labeled '慢性疾病用药' (Medicine for chronic diseases). This is a classic use case.
Learners often confuse 疾病 with 病 (bìng) or 痛苦 (tòngkǔ). Here are the pitfalls:
- Over-formalization: Don't say '我有一种疾病' (I have a disease) if you just have a cold. Say '我感冒了' or '我生病了'. Using 疾病 for a minor cold sounds overly dramatic or like a medical report.
- Verb Misuse: You cannot say '他疾病了'. 疾病 is a noun. You must say '他生病了' (He is sick) or '他患了疾病' (He contracted a disease).
- Confusion with 'Illness' vs 'Pain': 疾病 refers to the medical condition. 痛苦 refers to the suffering or pain. While a 疾病 causes 痛苦, they are not interchangeable.
- Classifier Errors: While '个' is sometimes used, '种' (type) is much more natural when referring to a specific category of disease.
Right: 这种疾病会导致剧烈的疼痛。 (This disease can cause severe pain).
Understanding the synonyms helps refine your Chinese:
- 病 (bìng)
- The general, everyday term. Can be a noun or a verb. '我生病了' (I am sick).
- 病症 (bìngzhèng)
- Focuses on the symptoms or the specific manifestation of a disease. '他的病症很奇怪' (His symptoms are strange).
- 疾患 (jíhuàn)
- A very formal, often written term, similar to 'ailment' or 'disorder'. Often used in '心理疾患' (mental disorder).
- 疾苦 (jíkǔ)
- This refers to the suffering and hardships of the people, often in a socio-political context. '关心民间疾苦' (Care about the hardships of the people).
- 传染病 (chuánrǎnbìng)
- Specifically 'infectious disease'. A subset of 疾病.
How Formal Is It?
Difficulty Rating
Grammar to Know
Use of 种 as a classifier for types of things.
The passive voice with 由...引起.
Adverbial phrases using 在...上 (e.g., 在医学上).
Compound nouns in Chinese (Adjective + Noun).
Using 随着 to indicate 'along with' (e.g., 随着疾病的传播).
Examples by Level
这是一个疾病。
This is a disease.
Basic 'A is B' structure.
他不怕疾病。
He is not afraid of disease.
Negation with 不.
这种疾病很常见。
This disease is very common.
Using 这种 (this kind of).
什么是疾病？
What is a disease?
Question with 什么.
医生看疾病。
Doctors look at (treat) diseases.
Subject-Verb-Object.
这里没有疾病。
There is no disease here.
Existence with 没有.
小猫有疾病吗？
Does the kitten have a disease?
Question with 吗.
我们要预防疾病。
We need to prevent disease.
Using 要 (need to/want to).
洗手可以预防疾病。
Washing hands can prevent disease.
Modal verb 可以.
这种疾病并不危险。
This disease is not actually dangerous.
Emphasis with 并不.
他患上了一种罕见的疾病。
He contracted a rare disease.
Verb 患上 (contracted).
很多疾病来自细菌。
Many diseases come from bacteria.
Preposition 来自 (comes from).
这种疾病的症状是什么？
What are the symptoms of this disease?
Possessive 的.
我们要了解这种疾病。
We need to understand this disease.
Verb 了解 (understand).
这种疾病传播得很快。
This disease spreads very fast.
Complement of degree 得.
他因为疾病没去上学。
He didn't go to school because of disease.
Causal 因为.
这种疾病对老人非常危险。
This disease is very dangerous for the elderly.
Structure 对...危险.
科学家们正在研究这种疾病的疗法。
Scientists are researching the cure for this disease.
Progressive 正在.
保持运动能减少患疾病的风险。
Keeping active can reduce the risk of contracting diseases.
Verb 减少 (reduce).
这种疾病已经在这个地区消失了。
This disease has already disappeared in this region.
Aspect marker 已经...了.
心理疾病和身体疾病一样重要。
Mental illness is as important as physical illness.
Comparison 和...一样.
这种疾病是由病毒引起的。
This disease is caused by a virus.
Passive/Causal 是由...引起的.
政府投入大量资金防治疾病。
The government invested a lot of money to prevent and treat diseases.
Verb 防治 (prevent and treat).
有些疾病是遗传的。
Some diseases are hereditary.
Adjective 遗传的.
这种疾病的潜伏期通常为两周。
The incubation period of this disease is usually two weeks.
Technical term 潜伏期.
慢性疾病需要长期的医疗管理。
Chronic diseases require long-term medical management.
Compound 医疗管理.
该疾病的爆发引起了全球关注。
The outbreak of the disease has drawn global attention.
Formal pronoun 该 (this/the said).
我们需要提高公众对这种疾病的认识。
We need to raise public awareness of this disease.
Collocation 提高认识.
这种疾病严重影响了患者的生活质量。
This disease seriously affected the patients' quality of life.
Adverb 严重 (seriously).
疫苗是预防此类疾病最有效的方法。
Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent such diseases.
Structure 此类 (this type of).
由于这种疾病，他不得不提前退休。
Due to this disease, he had to retire early.
Structure 不得不 (have no choice but to).
这种疾病的传播途径尚不明确。
The transmission route of this disease is not yet clear.
Formal word 尚 (still/yet).
这种罕见疾病的致病机理非常复杂。
The pathogenic mechanism of this rare disease is very complex.
Technical term 致病机理.
社会经济地位与疾病的发生率密切相关。
Socioeconomic status is closely related to the incidence of disease.
Structure 与...密切相关.
该项研究揭示了环境污染与呼吸系统疾病的关系。
The study revealed the relationship between environmental pollution and respiratory diseases.
Verb 揭示 (reveal).
重大疾病保险为患者提供了经济保障。
Critical illness insurance provides financial security for patients.
Specific term 重大疾病保险.
这种疾病在临床上很难与其他病症区分。
This disease is clinically difficult to distinguish from other conditions.
Adverbial 临床上 (clinically).
根除这种疾病需要全球范围内的协作。
Eradicating this disease requires global collaboration.
Verb 根除 (eradicate).
生活方式的改变导致了非传染性疾病的激增。
Changes in lifestyle have led to a surge in non-communicable diseases.
Noun 激增 (surge).
该药物能有效缓解疾病带来的并发症。
The drug can effectively alleviate complications caused by the disease.
Technical term 并发症.
疾病不仅是生理现象，更是社会建构的产物。
Disease is not only a biological phenomenon but also a product of social construction.
Philosophical structure 不仅是...更是.
历史学家探讨了黑死病等疾病如何重塑了欧洲文明。
Historians explored how diseases like the Black Death reshaped European civilization.
Verb 重塑 (reshape).
在后疫情时代，全球疾病监测体系亟待完善。
In the post-pandemic era, the global disease surveillance system urgently needs improvement.
Formal adverb 亟待 (urgently needs).
这种自身免疫性疾病的诱因至今仍是医学界的未解之谜。
The triggers of this autoimmune disease remain an unsolved mystery in the medical community.
Idiomatic 未解之谜.
通过基因编辑技术，我们或许能从源头上消除某些遗传疾病。
Through gene-editing technology, we might be able to eliminate certain genetic diseases at their source.
Structure 从源头上 (from the source).
疾病的污名化往往比疾病本身更具杀伤力。
The stigmatization of disease is often more lethal than the disease itself.
Noun 污名化 (stigmatization).
医学伦理在处理传染性疾病的强制隔离时面临巨大挑战。
Medical ethics face huge challenges when dealing with mandatory isolation for infectious diseases.
Subject 医学伦理 (medical ethics).
该论文详尽阐述了某种罕见神经系统疾病的病理演变过程。
The paper elaborates in detail on the pathological evolution process of a rare neurological disease.
Verb 阐述 (elaborate).
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Often Confused With
病 is more general and can be a verb; 疾病 is a formal noun.
痛苦 is the feeling of pain/suffering; 疾病 is the medical cause.
伤 refers to a physical injury/wound; 疾病 is an internal illness.
Idioms & Expressions
Easily Confused
Sentence Patterns
How to Use It
Remember 疾病 is only a noun. Use 生病 for the verb 'to be sick'.
Usually treated as a countable concept in terms of 'types' (种).
- Using 疾病 as a verb (e.g., 他疾病了).
- Using 疾病 for a simple cold in casual speech.
- Confusing 疾病 with 疾苦 (social suffering).
- Forgetting the measure word 种 when classifying diseases.
- Mispronouncing the second tone of 疾 as a first tone.
Tips
Learn the radical
The 疒 radical always relates to sickness. Seeing it twice in 疾病 makes it easy to remember.
Don't over-use
Avoid using 疾病 in casual conversation about minor ailments like a headache.
Pair with 患有
Use the formal verb 患有 (huànyǒu) when saying someone 'has' a 疾病.
TCM Context
In China, 疾病 is often discussed in terms of 'prevention' and 'lifestyle balance'.
Academic Tone
Use 疾病 when writing formal reports or academic papers about health.
News keywords
Listen for 疾病 during health reports; it's a key keyword for understanding the topic.
Tone accuracy
Make sure the fourth tone on 'bìng' is clear and sharp.
Common Verbs
Memorize 预防 (prevent) and 治疗 (treat) as they are the most common partners for 疾病.
Medical Chinese
If you are studying medical Chinese, this is one of the most fundamental words.
HSK Prep
This word frequently appears in HSK 4 and above reading materials.
Memorize It
Word Origin
Cultural Context
Disease is often seen as a disharmony of the body's internal environment.
Critical illness insurance (重大疾病保险) is a very common topic in Chinese financial planning.
Certain diseases like mental illness or HIV have historically carried social stigma, though this is changing.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Conversation Starters
"你认为哪种疾病对人类威胁最大？"
"我们应该如何预防季节性疾病？"
"你对重大疾病保险有什么了解吗？"
"现代生活方式会导致哪些疾病？"
"你听说过这种罕见疾病吗？"
Journal Prompts
写一写你对预防疾病的看法。
描述一次你了解某种疾病的经历。
讨论科技如何帮助人类战胜疾病。
分析心理疾病在现代社会中的重要性。
如果你是医生，你会如何向病人解释一种复杂的疾病？
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsGrammatically yes, but it sounds very formal. Usually, people say '我生病了' or '我得了一种病'.
疾病 is the general term for all diseases. 传染病 specifically refers to infectious/contagious diseases.
Yes, '心理疾病' is the standard term for mental illness.
心脏疾病 (Xīnzàng jíbìng) or simply 心脏病.
Yes, it can refer to diseases in humans, animals, and even plants.
The most common is '种' (zhǒng) for 'type of disease'.
No, it is strictly a noun.
It means 'critical illness' or 'major disease', often used in insurance.
Yes, it is much more formal than '病'.
预防疾病 (Yùfáng jíbìng).
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Summary
疾病 (jíbìng) is the standard, formal term for 'disease' in Chinese. While '病' is used for daily sickness, '疾病' is used for clinical diagnoses, public health discussions, and formal writing to describe pathological conditions.
- Formal noun for 'disease' or 'illness'.
- Used in medical, academic, and professional contexts.
- Often paired with verbs like 'prevent' (预防) and 'treat' (治疗).
- Covers both physical and mental health conditions.
Learn the radical
The 疒 radical always relates to sickness. Seeing it twice in 疾病 makes it easy to remember.
Don't over-use
Avoid using 疾病 in casual conversation about minor ailments like a headache.
Pair with 患有
Use the formal verb 患有 (huànyǒu) when saying someone 'has' a 疾病.
TCM Context
In China, 疾病 is often discussed in terms of 'prevention' and 'lifestyle balance'.
Example
我们要预防这种传染性的疾病。
Related Content
Related Phrases
More health words
一粒
A2One pill; a grain (for small, round objects like pills).
一片
A2One tablet; a slice (for flat objects like pills).
不正常
A2abnormal
以上
A2Above, over (a number)
酸痛
A2Sore; aching (especially muscles).
倒是
A2On the contrary; actually.
针灸
A2Acupuncture; traditional Chinese therapy.
扎针
A2to give an injection
急性
B1acute (illness)
急性病
B1Acute disease.
