Inflammation is the body's natural defense mechanism against harm, but chronic inflammation can be detrimental.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Body's response to injury or infection.
- Characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain.
- Can be acute or chronic, affecting health.
Overview
炎症（yánzhèng）是生物体对有害刺激（如病原体、受损细胞或刺激物）的一种复杂的生物学反应。它是免疫系统的保护性机制的一部分，旨在清除有害物质、启动伤口愈合过程。虽然炎症是身体自愈的正常过程，但长期的、慢性的炎症可能对健康造成负面影响，与多种疾病相关。
在日常语境中，“炎症”常用于描述身体出现的局部不适或疾病状态。医学和健康领域是其最常见的应用场景。它可以单独使用，也可以与其他词语组合，构成更具体的术语，如“急性炎症”、“慢性炎症”、“胃部炎症”等。描述炎症的严重程度或性质时，会用到“轻微”、“严重”、“局部”、“全身”等形容词。
Examples
运动过量可能导致关节出现炎症。
everydayOvertraining can lead to inflammation in the joints.
研究表明，长期的慢性炎症与多种退行性疾病的发生发展密切相关。
academicResearch indicates that chronic inflammation is closely associated with the development of various degenerative diseases.
他因为食物过敏，皮肤上起了好多红点，还很痒，应该是过敏性炎症。
informalHe has many red spots on his skin due to food allergies, and it's very itchy; it's likely allergic inflammation.
该药物的主要作用是抑制体内不必要的炎症反应。
medicalThe main function of this drug is to suppress unnecessary inflammatory responses in the body.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
抗击炎症
fight inflammation
减轻炎症
reduce inflammation
炎症因子
inflammatory factors
Often Confused With
‘发炎’ is a verb meaning 'to become inflamed' or 'to develop inflammation'. ‘炎症’ is the noun referring to the state or process of inflammation itself. For example, 'My finger is inflamed' (我的手指发炎了), versus 'Inflammation is a bodily response' (炎症是身体的反应).
‘感染’ means 'infection', which is the invasion and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms. Inflammation is often a response *to* infection, but inflammation can also be caused by non-infectious factors like injury or allergens. Not all inflammation is caused by infection.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
Inflammation is a key term in medical and biological contexts. While it describes a natural process, it's often used to denote a problematic health condition. When discussing symptoms, using more specific terms like 'swelling' (肿胀) or 'pain' (疼痛) might be clearer for laypersons. The distinction between acute and chronic inflammation is important for understanding prognosis and treatment.
Common Mistakes
Confusing inflammation with infection is common; remember that inflammation is the body's reaction, which can be triggered by infection but also by other causes. Using '发炎' (verb) when '炎症' (noun) is needed can also be an error in sentence structure.
Tips
Understand Inflammation's Role
Inflammation is a vital part of healing. Recognize its signs but also understand when it becomes harmful.
Beware of Chronic Inflammation
Persistent inflammation is linked to serious health issues like heart disease and diabetes. Seek medical advice if you suspect chronic inflammation.
Traditional Chinese Medicine View
In TCM, inflammation might be seen as 'heat-toxin' (热毒) or 'stagnation' (瘀滞), with different treatment approaches focusing on clearing heat or promoting circulation.
Word Origin
The word '炎症' (yánzhèng) in Chinese is composed of '炎' (yán), meaning 'flame' or 'blaze', referring to the heat and redness associated with inflammation, and '症' (zhèng), meaning 'symptom' or 'condition'. This directly reflects the observable symptoms.
Cultural Context
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), inflammation is often described using concepts like 'heat' (热) and 'toxins' (毒). Treatments aim to 'clear heat' (清热) or 'resolve toxins' (解毒) to reduce inflammation, reflecting a different conceptual framework than Western medicine.
Memory Tip
Think of 'inflammation' as the body's 'inflammatory' reaction, like a fire alarm going off (red, hot, swollen) when there's trouble (injury or infection).
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions炎症是身体对损伤或有害刺激的一种保护性反应。它是免疫系统启动的，目的是清除病原体、受损细胞和刺激物，并启动修复过程。
炎症的典型症状包括局部红、肿、热、痛以及功能受损。这些症状是身体免疫细胞和化学物质作用于受损部位的表现。
急性炎症是身体对损伤或感染的快速反应，通常在几天内消退。慢性炎症则持续时间较长（数周、数月甚至数年），可能对身体组织造成持续性损伤。
出现红、肿、热、痛等症状时，可能存在炎症。但准确诊断需要医生进行专业的评估，可能包括体格检查、血液检查或其他影像学检查。
Test Yourself
医生诊断他患有严重的肺部________。
句意指肺部存在一种病理状态，‘炎症’最符合语境，指肺部的发炎反应。
当身体组织受到损伤时，通常会引发一种保护性的反应，这被称为什么？
炎症是身体对损伤或感染的保护性反应，它包含了红、肿、热、痛等症状，是愈合过程的一部分。
请将以下词语组合成一个通顺的句子：身体 / 保护性 / 炎症 / 损伤 / 反应。
这个句子清晰地说明了炎症（名词）是身体（主语）对损伤（原因）的一种保护性反应（宾语）。
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Summary
Inflammation is the body's natural defense mechanism against harm, but chronic inflammation can be detrimental.
- Body's response to injury or infection.
- Characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain.
- Can be acute or chronic, affecting health.
Understand Inflammation's Role
Inflammation is a vital part of healing. Recognize its signs but also understand when it becomes harmful.
Beware of Chronic Inflammation
Persistent inflammation is linked to serious health issues like heart disease and diabetes. Seek medical advice if you suspect chronic inflammation.
Traditional Chinese Medicine View
In TCM, inflammation might be seen as 'heat-toxin' (热毒) or 'stagnation' (瘀滞), with different treatment approaches focusing on clearing heat or promoting circulation.
Examples
4 of 4运动过量可能导致关节出现炎症。
Overtraining can lead to inflammation in the joints.
研究表明，长期的慢性炎症与多种退行性疾病的发生发展密切相关。
Research indicates that chronic inflammation is closely associated with the development of various degenerative diseases.
他因为食物过敏，皮肤上起了好多红点，还很痒，应该是过敏性炎症。
He has many red spots on his skin due to food allergies, and it's very itchy; it's likely allergic inflammation.
该药物的主要作用是抑制体内不必要的炎症反应。
The main function of this drug is to suppress unnecessary inflammatory responses in the body.
