Explanation at your level:
You use 病倒 when you are very sick. You cannot go to school. You must stay in bed. It is like falling down because of a cold or fever. You say, 'I am sick,' but this is for when it is more serious.
When you work too much, you might 病倒. It means you were healthy, but now you are sick and cannot work. It is a very useful word to explain why you are not at your office or class today.
This word is perfect for describing someone who has been pushing themselves too hard. It implies a sudden collapse. Use it when you want to show that the illness was strong enough to stop someone's daily routine completely. It is common in stories and news.
The nuance of 病倒 is that it suggests a consequence of previous actions, such as stress or exhaustion. While 'sick' is neutral, '病倒' carries a sense of physical defeat. It is often used in narratives to explain a character's sudden absence or change in fortune.
At an advanced level, consider the metaphorical weight of the word. It is not just about a virus; it is about the body reaching its limit. Writers use it to create empathy for a character who has sacrificed their health for a goal. It bridges the gap between simple 'illness' and a 'total breakdown' of health.
In a literary context, 病倒 can signify the fragility of human ambition. When a powerful character is '病倒', it serves as a plot device to show their vulnerability. It is deeply rooted in the cultural understanding that health is the foundation of all success. The term carries a gravity that simple medical terms lack, making it a staple in both formal storytelling and reflective essays.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means to fall ill suddenly
- Often caused by overwork
- Verb phrase structure
- Common in daily speech
The term 病倒 (bìng dǎo) is a vivid way to describe someone who has fallen ill. The character 病 means sickness, while 倒 means to fall over or collapse. Together, they paint a picture of someone being 'knocked down' by a bug or exhaustion.
You will often hear this used when someone has been pushing themselves too hard. It isn't just a mild cold; it usually implies a significant health setback that forces the person to stop what they are doing. It is a very common way to express that someone's health has finally given way.
The etymology of 病倒 is rooted in the literal physical action of falling. In ancient Chinese, 倒 was used to describe anything that toppled over, like a tree or a wall. By combining it with 病, the language created a powerful metaphor for the human body.
Historically, this phrase reflects the agrarian lifestyle where physical strength was essential. If you were 病倒, you were physically unable to work in the fields, which was a serious matter. Over time, it evolved into a standard way to describe any form of collapse due to illness, whether physical or mental exhaustion.
In daily conversation, 病倒 is used to explain why someone is absent from work or school. It is slightly more dramatic than just saying 'I am sick.' It carries a nuance of suddenness or severity.
Commonly, you see it paired with phrases like 'overwork' (过度劳累). For example, 'He worked for three days straight and finally 病倒.' It is appropriate for both casual chats with friends and more serious explanations in a professional setting, though it is not considered formal 'legalese' or academic jargon.
1. 积劳成疾: To fall ill due to long-term overwork. 2. 一病不起: To fall ill and never recover. 3. 病来如山倒: Illness comes as fast as a mountain collapsing. 4. 卧床不起: To be bedridden. 5. 大病一场: To have a major illness.
Grammatically, 病倒 acts as a verb phrase. It is often used as a resultative complement, where 倒 acts as the result of the 病. It does not take a direct object in the way 'eat an apple' does; instead, it describes the subject's state.
In terms of pronunciation, the bìng is a falling tone, and dǎo is a third-tone (dipping) sound. It rhymes loosely with other 'ao' sounds like 跑 (pǎo) or 好 (hǎo), making it easy to remember for beginners.
Fun Fact
The character 倒 originally meant to trip or fall over.
Pronunciation Guide
Approximation of Chinese tones.
Approximation of Chinese tones.
Common Errors
- Mixing up tones
- Mispronouncing 'dǎo'
- Not emphasizing the 'collapse' aspect
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Resultative Complement
病倒
Time Markers
昨天
Cause-Effect
因为...所以
Examples by Level
他病倒了。
He fell ill.
Simple subject-verb structure.
我病倒了。
I fell ill.
First person usage.
她病倒了。
She fell ill.
Third person feminine.
别病倒。
Don't fall ill.
Imperative form.
他昨天病倒了。
He fell ill yesterday.
Time marker usage.
他们病倒了。
They fell ill.
Plural subject.
谁病倒了？
Who fell ill?
Interrogative.
大家都病倒了。
Everyone fell ill.
Universal quantifier.
他因为太累而病倒了。
她病倒后没去上班。
别让自己病倒。
他病倒了，需要休息。
听说他病倒了。
如果病倒了就去医院。
他病倒了几天。
大家都很担心他病倒了。
连续加班让他病倒了。
为了考试，他几乎病倒了。
流感期间很多人病倒了。
他病倒后，工作都停了。
别等到病倒了才休息。
他病倒在办公室里。
他病倒了，错过了会议。
医生说他因为压力病倒了。
高强度的工作最终让他病倒了。
他病倒了，不得不请长假。
尽管他很努力，还是病倒了。
病倒后的他显得很虚弱。
他病倒了，这让他意识到健康的重要性。
由于气候变化，很多人病倒了。
他病倒了，无法参加演出。
病倒了就应该好好调理。
他因积劳成疾而突然病倒了。
在项目最关键的时候，他病倒了。
病倒了才明白身体是革命的本钱。
他病倒了，公司陷入了混乱。
那次病倒彻底改变了他的生活方式。
他病倒了，仿佛大厦倾颓。
他病倒了，只能无奈地放弃计划。
即便病倒了，他依然在关心项目。
他病倒了，如同一棵被狂风折断的树。
那次严重的病倒让他看透了名利。
他病倒了，整个家族都陷入了恐慌。
病倒了，不仅是身体的崩溃，更是精神的挑战。
他病倒了，在病榻上写完了最后一部作品。
他病倒了，从此淡出了公众视野。
病倒了，才发现健康是唯一的财富。
他病倒了，那段时光是他人生最灰暗的时刻。
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"积劳成疾"
Illness caused by long-term overwork.
他积劳成疾，终于病倒了。
formal"病来如山倒"
Illness comes as fast as a mountain collapsing.
别小看感冒，病来如山倒。
common"卧床不起"
To be bedridden.
他病倒后卧床不起。
neutral"大病一场"
To have a major illness.
他大病一场后瘦了很多。
neutral"一病不起"
To fall ill and never recover.
他那次病倒后竟然一病不起。
literary"病入膏肓"
Illness beyond cure.
他已经病入膏肓了。
literaryEasily Confused
Both mean sick.
生病 is general; 病倒 is sudden collapse.
我生病了 vs 我病倒了.
Both involve falling.
倒下 is physical; 病倒 is sickness-related.
他倒下了 vs 他病倒了.
Both mean sick.
患病 is medical; 病倒 is colloquial.
他患病了 vs 他病倒了.
Both mean sick.
病了 is simple; 病倒 is dramatic.
他病了 vs 他病倒了.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 病倒 + 了
他病倒了。
Subject + 因为 + cause + 病倒
他因为工作病倒了。
Subject + 差点 + 病倒
他差点病倒了。
Subject + 终于 + 病倒
他终于病倒了。
Subject + 病倒 + 在 + location
他病倒在桌子上。
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
病倒 implies a serious collapse, not a minor ache.
倒下 is physical falling; 病倒 is specifically due to sickness.
病倒 is a verb phrase, not a noun.
病倒 implies actual sickness, not just fatigue.
病倒 implies a sudden event.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize a falling person.
Native Speakers
Use it when someone is absent.
Cultural Insight
Health is wealth.
Grammar Shortcut
It's a verb phrase.
Say It Right
Practice the tones.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it for minor aches.
Did You Know?
It's a metaphor.
Study Smart
Use flashcards.
Context
Use it for work stress.
Pattern
Subject + 病倒.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a person working so hard they fall over (倒) from sickness (病).
Visual Association
A person standing at a desk, then collapsing.
Word Web
Challenge
Use it in a sentence today.
Word Origin
Chinese
Original meaning: To fall due to sickness
Cultural Context
None.
The concept of 'falling ill' is universal but '病倒' carries a specific cultural weight regarding work ethic.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- 因为加班病倒
- 请假因为病倒
- 同事病倒了
at school
- 同学病倒了
- 考试前病倒
- 因为压力病倒
at home
- 照顾病倒的家人
- 自己病倒了
- 病倒在床
in news
- 某人病倒
- 流感导致病倒
- 因病倒住院
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever been so tired you fell ill?"
"What do you do when you feel like you might fall ill?"
"Why do people fall ill from work?"
"Is it common to see people fall ill in your country?"
"How do you recover after falling ill?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you were sick.
Why is health important?
Write about a time you worked too hard.
What is the best way to rest?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, 病倒 implies a sudden collapse.
Only if it is very severe.
It is neutral.
No, just sick.
Rarely.
Add 了.
Yes.
Chinese.
Test Yourself
他因为太累而___了。
Context of exhaustion leads to falling ill.
What does '病倒' mean?
It means to fall ill.
'病倒' is a noun.
It is a verb phrase.
Word
Meaning
Matching terms to meanings.
Time markers usually go first.
Score: /5
Summary
病倒 describes a sudden collapse due to illness, often linked to exhaustion.
- Means to fall ill suddenly
- Often caused by overwork
- Verb phrase structure
- Common in daily speech
Memory Palace
Visualize a falling person.
Native Speakers
Use it when someone is absent.
Cultural Insight
Health is wealth.
Grammar Shortcut
It's a verb phrase.
Example
他工作太辛苦，最后病倒了。
