患病 in 30 Seconds
- 患病 is a formal verb meaning 'to suffer from a disease' or 'to fall ill'.
- It is commonly used in medical, news, and academic contexts rather than casual speech.
- The word combines '患' (suffer/contract) and '病' (illness/disease).
- Common phrases include '患病期间' (during illness) and '患病率' (prevalence rate).
The Chinese term 患病 (huàn bìng) is a formal and precise verb used to describe the state of suffering from a disease or falling ill. While the more common term 生病 (shēng bìng) is used in everyday conversation to describe general sickness, 患病 carries a weightier, often more clinical or literary tone. It is composed of two characters: 患 (huàn), which means to suffer, worry, or contract, and 病 (bìng), which means illness or disease. Together, they form a term that is frequently encountered in medical reports, news articles, and formal literature to describe individuals or populations affected by specific medical conditions.
- Register and Context
- This word is predominantly used in formal writing and professional settings. You will see it in health statistics (e.g., 患病率 - prevalence rate) and in news reports discussing the health of public figures. It is rarely used when telling a friend you have a cold; in that case, '生病' or '感冒' is preferred.
- Grammatical Function
- As a verb, '患病' can stand alone to indicate that someone is ill, or it can be followed by a duration (e.g., 患病多年 - suffered from illness for many years). It is often used in the structure '患有...疾病' (suffering from ... disease) where '患' acts as the primary verb.
根据最新统计，该地区患病人数正在逐年下降。
— According to recent statistics, the number of people suffering from the disease in this region is decreasing year by year.
In a broader cultural sense, using 患病 allows for a degree of respectful distance. When discussing serious chronic conditions like cancer or heart disease, '患病' acknowledges the gravity of the situation without the colloquial bluntness of '得病'. It frames the illness as a condition the person is enduring rather than just a temporary state of being 'unwell'.
他在患病期间依然坚持写作。
— He continued writing even during the period he was suffering from illness.
- Character Breakdown
- The character '患' (huàn) contains the 'heart' radical (心) at the bottom, suggesting an internal state of anxiety or suffering. Historically, it depicted a string of objects (串) over a heart, symbolizing things weighing heavily on one's mind or body.
长期压力过大可能导致人们患病。
— Excessive long-term stress may lead to people falling ill.
这位著名的科学家在患病后选择了隐退。
— The famous scientist chose to retire after falling ill.
Ultimately, mastering 患病 marks a transition from basic conversational Chinese to a more sophisticated, literate level of the language. It allows the speaker to discuss health issues with the appropriate level of gravity and precision required in professional and academic environments.
Using 患病 (huàn bìng) correctly requires an understanding of its formal syntax. Unlike '生病', which is often used as a simple predicate, '患病' frequently appears in specific structures that emphasize the duration, the type of illness, or the status of the patient. It is a 'separable-like' compound but usually functions as a cohesive unit in formal prose.
- Structure: Subject + 患病
- This is the simplest form, used to state that someone is ill. Example: '他不幸患病。' (He unfortunately fell ill.) This is often used in news reports to avoid specifying the illness immediately.
- Structure: 患病 + 期间 (During the period of illness)
- This is a very common phrase. '在患病期间，他得到了家人的悉心照料。' (During his illness, he received careful care from his family.) It functions as a temporal adverbial clause.
由于他长期患病，家里的经济状况变得十分困难。
— Because of his long-term illness, the family's economic situation became very difficult.
One of the most important variations is the use of the character '患' followed by a specific disease. In this case, '病' is replaced by the name of the ailment. For example, '患癌症' (suffering from cancer) or '患流感' (suffering from the flu). However, '患病' as a whole can also be modified by adjectives like '严重' (serious) or '慢性' (chronic).
医生说他患病的原因是生活不规律。
— The doctor said the reason he fell ill was his irregular lifestyle.
- Structure: 患病 + 风险 (Risk of falling ill)
- In health science, we often talk about '患病风险'. Example: '吸烟会增加患病风险。' (Smoking increases the risk of falling ill.)
我们应当关注老年人的患病情况。
— We should pay attention to the illness status of the elderly.
When using '患病' in passive structures, it often describes a population being affected. '被发现患病' (to be found ill) is a common sequence in medical screening contexts. For example: '他在体检中被发现患病。' (He was found to be ill during a physical examination.)
如果发现自己患病，请及时就医。
— If you find yourself ill, please seek medical attention promptly.
In summary, '患病' is a versatile tool for formal expression. By placing it before nouns like '期间' (period), '风险' (risk), or '人数' (number of people), or using it as a formal predicate, you can communicate health-related information with professional clarity.
In the real world, the word 患病 (huàn bìng) is a staple of professional communication across several domains. Understanding these contexts will help you recognize the word when you encounter it in native environments.
- News and Media
- Journalists use '患病' to report on the health of politicians, celebrities, or the general public. Headlines might read: '某著名影星因患病宣布息影' (A certain famous movie star announces retirement due to illness). Using '患病' here maintains a respectful and objective journalistic distance.
- Hospitals and Medical Documents
- When you receive a formal diagnosis or a medical certificate in China, the language will be clinical. Phrases like '患病史' (medical history) or '患病经过' (course of illness) are standard on medical forms. Doctors might use this term when discussing a patient's case with colleagues or writing in a chart.
新闻报道称，该国总统因患病将缺席国际会议。
— News reports state that the country's president will be absent from the international conference due to illness.
Public health announcements also rely heavily on this term. During flu seasons or pandemics, the government issues guidelines for 患病人群 (the affected population). You will see posters in subways or hospitals advising people on what to do if they or their family members 患病.
医生，请问我父亲患病的情况严重吗？
— Doctor, is my father's illness serious?
- Academic and Scientific Research
- In papers regarding epidemiology or psychology, '患病' is the standard term for morbidity. Researchers analyze '患病因素' (risk factors) and '患病趋势' (trends in illness). It is a technical term that ensures clarity and standardization in scientific discourse.
这项研究旨在分析环境污染与儿童患病之间的关系。
— This study aims to analyze the relationship between environmental pollution and children falling ill.
Finally, you may hear it in formal speeches or eulogies. When reflecting on someone's life, a speaker might mention how the person '患病多年仍乐观向上' (remained optimistic despite suffering from illness for many years). In this context, '患病' adds a layer of dignity to the struggle described.
虽然他长期患病，但他从不抱怨。
— Although he was ill for a long time, he never complained.
Whether in a hospital, a university, or through a television screen, '患病' is the key to understanding how Chinese society discusses health in its most serious and professional forms.
While 患病 (huàn bìng) is a useful word, its formal nature makes it easy to misuse in casual settings. Here are the most common pitfalls learners encounter.
- Mistake 1: Over-formality in Casual Speech
- Using '患病' when you have a minor cold or are talking to a friend can sound very strange, almost like you're reading a medical textbook. If you say '我患病了' to a friend, they might think you have a life-threatening condition. Instead, use '我病了' or '我不舒服'.
- Mistake 2: Confusing '患' and '患病' with specific diseases
- Learners often try to say '患病癌症'. This is redundant because '病' (illness) and '癌症' (cancer) are both nouns. The correct way is '患癌症' (to suffer from cancer) or '患了癌症'. '患病' is a complete verb-object phrase on its own.
Incorrect: 他患病了流感。
Correct: 他患了流感。
Another common error is the incorrect use of measure words or modifiers. Since '患病' is a formal verb, it doesn't take the same casual modifiers as '生病'. You wouldn't usually say '患了一点儿病'; instead, you would say '身体有些不适' (body is a bit uncomfortable) or '患了轻微的疾病' (contracted a mild illness).
Incorrect: 他患病得很重。
Correct: 他病得很重。
- Mistake 3: Misusing '患' as a standalone verb for non-medical issues
- In modern Chinese, '患' is almost exclusively used for diseases or specific formal disasters (like '水患' - flood). Don't use it for general 'troubles' or 'problems' like '患问题'. Use '出问题' or '面临问题' instead.
长期吸烟的人患病的几率更高。
— Correct usage in a scientific context.
Finally, watch out for the object. '患病' implies a physical or mental illness. You cannot '患病' a bad habit or a character flaw. For those, Chinese uses different verbs like '染上' (contract/catch a habit) or '具有' (possess a flaw).
By avoiding these common errors, you will ensure that your use of '患病' sounds natural and appropriate to the formal contexts it is designed for.
Chinese has a rich vocabulary for health and illness. Understanding the differences between 患病 (huàn bìng) and its synonyms will help you choose the right word for every situation.
- 患病 vs. 生病 (shēng bìng)
- '生病' is the most common, neutral term. It is used in daily life for everything from a cold to more serious issues. '患病' is formal, clinical, and often implies a more serious or officially diagnosed condition.
- 患病 vs. 得病 (dé bìng)
- '得病' literally means 'to get an illness'. It is slightly more colloquial than '患病' but more specific than '生病'. It focuses on the moment of contracting the illness. '患病' often describes the state of having the illness over time.
他因为劳累过度而生病了。(Casual)
该研究分析了老年人患病的因素。(Formal)
For even more formal or literary contexts, you might encounter these alternatives:
- 染病 (rǎn bìng)
- '染' means 'to dye' or 'to infect'. '染病' is specifically used for infectious or contagious diseases. It implies that the person 'caught' it from somewhere else. Example: '染上流感' (infected with the flu).
- 抱恙 (bào yàng)
- This is an extremely polite, archaic-sounding term used in formal letters or when talking about high-status individuals. It literally means 'carrying an ailment'. Example: '闻君抱恙，甚为挂念' (I heard you are unwell and am very concerned).
- 罹患 (lí huàn)
- Even more formal than '患病', '罹患' is almost exclusively used for very serious, life-threatening diseases like cancer or rare disorders. It is found in high-level medical literature and serious news reports.
他不幸罹患绝症，但依然保持坚强。
— He unfortunately suffered from an incurable disease but remained strong.
Choosing the right word is about matching the 'register' (formality level) of your conversation or writing. While '患病' is a safe middle-ground for professional use, being aware of '生病' for friends and '罹患' for serious medical writing will make your Chinese sound much more native and nuanced.
Examples by Level
他患病了，不能来学校。
He is sick and cannot come to school.
Subject + 患病了. This is a simple formal statement.
如果患病，要多喝水。
If you are sick, you should drink more water.
Condition (如果) + 患病.
老师因为患病休假了。
The teacher took a leave because of illness.
Cause (因为) + 患病.
他患病多天了。
He has been sick for many days.
患病 + duration (多天).
谁患病了？
Who is sick?
Interrogative pronoun + 患病了.
我不希望你患病。
I don't want you to get sick.
Subject + 希望 + Object (you) + 患病.
他患病的时候很安静。
He is very quiet when he is sick.
患病 + 的时候 (when).
小猫也可能患病。
Kittens can also get sick.
Subject + 可能 (can) + 患病.
他在出差期间不幸患病。
He unfortunately fell ill during his business trip.
Time (期间) + 不幸 (unfortunately) + 患病.
许多人因为天气冷而患病。
Many people fell ill because of the cold weather.
Cause (因为...而) + 患病.
医生正在检查患病的孩子。
The doctor is examining the sick child.
患病 + 的 + Noun (child).
他患病后瘦了很多。
He lost a lot of weight after falling ill.
患病 + 后 (after).
这种药对患病的人有用。
This medicine is useful for sick people.
对...的人 (for people who...) + 患病.
他患病的原因还不清楚。
The cause of his illness is still unclear.
患病 + 的原因 (the reason for illness).
这个老人长期患病。
This elderly person has been ill for a long time.
Adverb (长期) + 患病.
患病期间不能吃辛辣食物。
You cannot eat spicy food while sick.
患病期间 (during the period of illness).
调查显示，该地区的患病率有所上升。
The survey shows that the prevalence rate in this area has risen.
患病率 (prevalence rate) as a compound noun.
他虽然患病，但精神状态很好。
Although he is ill, his mental state is very good.
Conjunction (虽然...但).
及早发现患病迹象非常重要。
It is very important to detect signs of illness early.
患病迹象 (signs of illness).
这种传染病导致大量家畜患病。
This infectious disease caused a large number of livestock to fall ill.
Cause (导致) + Noun + 患病.
他因为患病而失去了工作的机会。
He lost his job opportunity because he fell ill.
Resultative structure (因为...而).
医院为患病的贫困人口提供免费治疗。
The hospital provides free treatment for the sick poor population.
患病 + 的 + Noun phrase (poor population).
心理压力也是导致人们患病的重要因素。
Psychological stress is also an important factor leading to people falling ill.
导致 (lead to) + people + 患病.
他患病的消息很快传开了。
The news of his illness spread quickly.
患病 + 的消息 (the news of falling ill).
该项政策旨在保障患病员工的基本权益。
This policy aims to protect the basic rights and interests of ill employees.
患病 + 员工 (employee) as a professional term.
环境污染显著增加了当地居民的患病风险。
Environmental pollution has significantly increased the risk of illness for local residents.
患病风险 (risk of illness).
医生详细记录了患者的患病经过。
The doctor recorded the patient's course of illness in detail.
患病经过 (the course/process of illness).
他被诊断出患有一种罕见的遗传性疾病。
He was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease.
患有...疾病 (suffering from ... disease).
患病不仅是身体上的痛苦，也是心理上的考验。
Falling ill is not only physical pain but also a psychological test.
患病 as the subject of a philosophical statement.
政府拨出专款用于患病儿童的救助。
The government allocated special funds for the relief of sick children.
患病 + 儿童 (children) in a policy context.
由于患病，他不得不推迟了婚礼。
Due to illness, he had to postpone the wedding.
Due to (由于) + 患病.
我们要关注那些因病致贫的患病家庭。
We should pay attention to those families that have fallen into poverty due to illness.
患病 + 家庭 (family).
该论文探讨了社会经济地位与患病率之间的相关性。
The paper explores the correlation between socioeconomic status and prevalence rates.
Academic context, '患病率' (prevalence rate).
在患病初期，症状往往并不明显。
In the early stages of the disease, symptoms are often not obvious.
患病初期 (early stage of illness).
他将患病视为人生的一种磨炼。
He viewed falling ill as a kind of trial in life.
View...as (将...视为).
医疗保险在很大程度上减轻了患病者的负担。
Medical insurance has largely reduced the burden on those who are ill.
患病者 (the ill/sufferers).
遗传因素在某些疾病的患病过程中起着关键作用。
Genetic factors play a key role in the pathogenesis of certain diseases.
患病过程 (the process of becoming/being ill).
这位作家在患病期间完成了他的最后一部巨著。
The author completed his last masterpiece while suffering from illness.
Formal literary biography context.
研究发现，该群体的患病风险与生活习惯密切相关。
The study found that the risk of illness in this group is closely related to lifestyle habits.
Scientific finding structure.
他因患病而产生的焦虑感需要专业的心理疏导。
The anxiety he felt due to being ill requires professional psychological counseling.
因...而产生的 (generated due to...).
法律规定，雇主不得因劳动者患病而解除劳动合同。
The law stipulates that employers may not terminate labor contracts because a worker is ill.
Legal terminology: '劳动者患病'.
探讨人类患病的本质是医学哲学的核心课题之一。
Exploring the essence of human illness is one of the core topics of medical philosophy.
Philosophical/Abstract usage.
在全球化背景下，传染病的患病跨国传播速度惊人。
In the context of globalization, the speed of cross-border transmission of infectious diseases is alarming.
High-level geopolitical/health context.
这种罕见病症的患病机制尚处于研究的初级阶段。
The pathogenesis of this rare condition is still in the early stages of research.
患病机制 (pathogenesis/mechanism of illness).
他以细腻的笔触描写了主人公患病时的内心挣扎。
With delicate brushstrokes, he described the protagonist's inner struggle while ill.
Literary criticism context.
患病率的统计差异揭示了社会资源分配的不均。
The statistical differences in prevalence rates reveal the unequal distribution of social resources.
Sociological analysis context.
在某些文化中，患病被赋予了某种超自然的意义。
In some cultures, falling ill is endowed with a certain supernatural meaning.
Anthropological context.
尽管身处患病之苦，他依然展现出了非凡的意志力。
Despite suffering from the pain of illness, he still showed extraordinary willpower.
患病之苦 (the suffering of being ill).
Summary
Use '患病' (huàn bìng) when you need to be professional or formal about health. For example, in a medical report: '该患者患病已有三年' (This patient has been ill for three years). Avoid it for minor colds with friends.
- 患病 is a formal verb meaning 'to suffer from a disease' or 'to fall ill'.
- It is commonly used in medical, news, and academic contexts rather than casual speech.
- The word combines '患' (suffer/contract) and '病' (illness/disease).
- Common phrases include '患病期间' (during illness) and '患病率' (prevalence rate).
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
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.
