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A2 noun 9 min read

胃病

weibing

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 胃病 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 胃病 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should recognize that '胃' (wèi) means stomach and '病' (bìng) means illness. You might not use this word yourself yet, but you should understand it when someone says they have it. At this stage, you are likely learning body parts and basic health words. Think of '胃病' as a combination of 'stomach' and 'sick'. If you see these two characters together, someone is talking about a medical problem related to their stomach. It's helpful to know because food is very important in Chinese culture, and people often talk about why they can or cannot eat certain things. Just remember: 胃 = stomach, 病 = illness.

At the A2 level, you can start using '胃病' in simple sentences. You should know the common pattern '我有胃病' (I have a stomach illness). This is a very useful phrase if you are traveling in China and need to explain why you can't eat spicy food or why you need hot water. You can also use simple adjectives like '严重' (serious) or '轻微' (slight) to describe it. At this level, you should be able to distinguish '胃病' (the illness) from '胃疼' (stomach pain). You might use it to talk about your family members or yourself in a basic doctor's visit or a dinner conversation.

At the B1 level, you should be able to discuss the causes and treatments of '胃病'. You can use more complex verbs like '引起' (to cause) or '导致' (to lead to). For example, '压力大导致了我的胃病' (High pressure led to my stomach illness). You should also be familiar with the cultural concept of '养胃' (nourishing the stomach) and how it relates to '胃病'. You can describe symptoms more clearly and understand simple advice given by a Chinese pharmacist or doctor. You are beginning to understand that '胃病' is often a chronic issue in the Chinese mindset, not just a one-time ache.

At the B2 level, you can use '胃病' in more formal discussions about health and lifestyle. You should be comfortable using it in written reports or when discussing social issues like 'occupational health'. You can use terms like '复发' (relapse) or '慢性' (chronic) in conjunction with '胃病'. You understand the nuance of using '胃病' as a polite social excuse in business settings. Your vocabulary should also include specific types of stomach illnesses like '胃炎' (gastritis) so you can compare them to the general term '胃病'. You can explain the relationship between diet, emotions, and stomach health in detail.

At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the medical and cultural connotations of '胃病'. You can use the word in academic or professional medical contexts, and you understand the history of how stomach health has been viewed in Chinese medicine versus Western medicine. You can use idiomatic expressions related to the stomach and illness. You can read complex articles about the rising rates of '胃病' in urban populations and participate in debates about healthcare. You also recognize '胃病' when it appears in literature as a metaphor for a character's internal struggle or the 'bitterness' of their life.

At the C2 level, you use '胃病' with the precision of a native speaker. You understand the subtle shifts in meaning depending on the register (formal vs. informal). You can discuss the etymology of the characters and how they've evolved. You are aware of the most recent medical research published in Chinese regarding gastric diseases. You can use the term in high-level literary analysis or when discussing complex philosophical concepts related to the body and the 'self'. You can navigate any medical situation in a Chinese-speaking environment with ease, using '胃病' as a starting point for highly technical discussions.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

胃病 in 30 Seconds

胃病 (wèibìng) is a general Chinese term for any stomach-related illness or chronic gastric trouble, commonly used in daily conversation.
It is composed of '胃' (stomach) and '病' (illness), functioning as a noun that often follows the verb '有' (to have).
Culturally, it is frequently associated with irregular eating habits, high stress, and the need for long-term dietary 'nourishment' (养).
It differs from '胃疼' (stomach ache) because it implies a persistent condition rather than a temporary, one-time sensation of pain.

The term 胃病 (wèibìng) is a ubiquitous compound noun in the Chinese language, formed by the characters 胃 (wèi), meaning 'stomach', and 病 (bìng), meaning 'illness', 'disease', or 'sickness'. Unlike in English where one might specify 'gastritis', 'acid reflux', or 'ulcers' in casual conversation, Chinese speakers frequently use 胃病 as a broad, umbrella term to describe any chronic or recurring gastric discomfort or medical condition. It is an essential vocabulary word for anyone living in China or interacting with Chinese speakers because digestive health is a central topic of concern in Chinese culture, often linked to lifestyle, diet, and emotional well-being.

Literal Meaning: Stomach disease or stomach trouble.
Usage Frequency: Extremely high in daily conversation, medical contexts, and workplace excuses.

因为长期饮食不规律，他患上了严重的胃病。 (Because of long-term irregular eating habits, he developed a serious stomach illness.)

In a social context, mentioning one has 胃病 often triggers a wave of sympathetic advice. This is because, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophy, the stomach is seen as the 'Sea of Grain and Water', the foundation of acquired constitution. Therefore, having a 'stomach illness' is not just a localized problem but a sign that one's overall lifestyle is out of balance. People use this word when declining spicy food, explaining why they are drinking hot water instead of ice water, or justifying why they need to eat smaller, more frequent meals. It is less about a specific diagnosis and more about a state of physical vulnerability that requires 'nourishing' (养) rather than just 'treating' (治).

Common Associations: Irregular meals, stress, cold drinks, spicy food, and 'overworking'.

医生建议有胃病的人要少吃多餐。 (Doctors suggest that people with stomach illnesses should eat smaller, more frequent meals.)

Furthermore, 胃病 is often used in professional settings. In the high-pressure environment of urban China, 'occupational stomach illness' (职业性胃病) is a common complaint among office workers who skip lunch or drink too much coffee. Thus, the word carries a connotation of being a 'modern' or 'stress-induced' ailment. When you use this word, you are communicating both a physical symptom and a lifestyle context that your listener will immediately recognize and relate to.

Using 胃病 correctly involves understanding its role as a noun and the verbs that typically accompany it. The most common verb used with 胃病 is 有 (yǒu - to have) or 患 (huàn - to suffer from/contract). While '有' is used for general, everyday situations, '患' is more formal and medical. Additionally, because stomach issues are often seen as long-term conditions, the verb 养 (yǎng - to nourish/heal/take care of) is frequently paired with it to describe the process of recovery through diet and lifestyle changes.

Standard Pattern: Subject + 有/患有 + (Adjective) + 胃病.

我爷爷有老胃病，不能吃生冷的东西。 (My grandfather has a chronic stomach problem; he cannot eat raw or cold food.)

Notice the use of 老 (lǎo) in the example above. In the context of illnesses, 老 means 'chronic' or 'long-standing'. '老胃病' is a very common phrase used to describe someone who has dealt with stomach issues for years. You can also quantify or describe the severity using adjectives like 严重 (yánzhòng - serious) or 轻微 (qīngwēi - slight).

如果不注意休息，你的胃病会复发的。 (If you don't pay attention to resting, your stomach illness will relapse.)

Another important verb is 犯 (fàn), which means 'to recur' or 'to have a flare-up'. When someone says '我的胃病又犯了', it means their chronic stomach condition has become symptomatic again. This is a very natural way to explain a sudden onset of pain due to a pre-existing condition. In terms of sentence structure, 胃病 can also act as the subject of a sentence, particularly when discussing the causes or consequences of the illness, such as '胃病折磨了他很多年' (The stomach illness tortured him for many years).

Formal Context: In medical reports, you might see '胃部疾病' (stomach area diseases), but '胃病' remains acceptable even in clinical settings for general reference.

三分治，七分养，这是治疗胃病的金科玉律。 (Thirty percent treatment, seventy percent nourishment; this is the golden rule for treating stomach illness.)

You will encounter 胃病 in a variety of real-world scenarios, ranging from the dinner table to the doctor's office. In China, food is the center of social life, but so is the discussion of how that food affects the body. If you are at a business banquet and someone is politely refusing to drink alcohol (白酒 - báijiǔ), they might say, '我有胃病，不能喝酒' (I have a stomach illness, I can't drink). This is a socially 'safe' and respected excuse that prevents further pressure to drink.

In the workplace, 胃病 is a very common reason for taking a short leave or requesting a lighter workload. Because it is often associated with stress and irregular eating—both hallmarks of the modern Chinese work culture (like the 996 schedule)—it is viewed with a degree of empathy by managers and colleagues alike. You might hear a coworker say, '他胃病犯了，今天请假' (His stomach trouble flared up, he's taking the day off).

Scenario: The Pharmacy: When entering a pharmacy (药店 - yàodiàn), you might ask, '有没有治胃病的药？' (Do you have medicine for stomach illness?). The pharmacist will then ask for more specifics.

现在的年轻人忙于工作，很多人都落下了胃病的病根。 (Young people today are so busy with work that many have developed the root of stomach illness.)

In media and entertainment, 胃病 is a frequent trope in TV dramas (C-dramas). A hardworking protagonist might collapse or clutch their stomach after a long night of overtime, leading another character to exclaim about their '胃病'. It serves as a narrative shorthand for 'self-sacrifice' or 'extreme diligence'. You will also see it in advertisements for health supplements, herbal teas, and over-the-counter medications, often accompanied by diagrams of a glowing or 'angry' stomach organ.

Finally, within family circles, older relatives are notorious for diagnosing '胃病' in younger people who drink too many iced beverages. You might hear a grandmother warn, '别喝冰水，小心得胃病！' (Don't drink ice water, be careful not to get a stomach illness!). Here, the word is used as a cautionary label for any behavior that contradicts traditional health wisdom regarding the 'warmth' of the digestive system.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make when using 胃病 is failing to distinguish between the organ and the area. In English, we often say 'my stomach hurts' to mean anything from the lower ribs to the pelvic bone. However, in Chinese, 胃 (wèi) specifically refers to the biological organ (the stomach). If the pain is lower down in the intestinal area, a Chinese speaker would say 肚子疼 (dùzi téng). Using 胃病 to describe general abdominal cramps or diarrhea is technically incorrect and can lead to medical confusion.

Mistake 1: 胃病 vs. 肚子疼: Using '胃病' for a temporary 'stomach ache' caused by bad food. For a one-time ache, use '胃疼' or '肚子疼'.

Incorrect: 我昨天吃了坏东西，得了胃病。 (I ate something bad yesterday and got a stomach illness.)
Correct: 我昨天吃了坏东西，胃疼。 (I ate something bad yesterday and my stomach hurts.)

Another mistake is the grammatical placement of the word. Since 胃病 is a noun, it cannot be used as a verb. You cannot '胃病' someone. You must use verbs like 有 (have), 得 (get/contract), or 患 (suffer from). Also, avoid using '胃病' with 'very' (很). You wouldn't say '我很胃病'. You would say '我的胃病很严重' (My stomach illness is very serious).

Furthermore, learners often forget the 'nourishment' aspect of the word. In English, we 'treat' a disease. In Chinese, while you can 治 (zhì - treat) a 胃病, it is culturally more common to talk about 养 (yǎng - nourish). If you only use the word 治, you might miss the nuance of the long-term lifestyle management that 胃病 usually implies in a Chinese context.

Mistake 2: Over-specification: Trying to find the exact medical term like 'gastritis' in a casual conversation. In 90% of cases, '胃病' is the more natural choice for learners.

Natural: 他因为工作压力大，经常犯胃病。 (He often has stomach trouble flare-ups due to high work pressure.)

To truly master the use of 胃病, it is helpful to compare it with related terms that describe digestive issues. While 胃病 is the general term, other words provide more specificity regarding the symptoms or the medical nature of the problem. Understanding these distinctions will help you sound more like a native speaker and ensure you are understood correctly in medical situations.

胃疼 (wèiténg): This refers to the physical sensation of pain in the stomach. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis. You can have 胃疼 without having a chronic 胃病 (e.g., if you ate too much ice cream).
消化不良 (xiāohuà bùliáng): Literally 'digestion not good' (indigestion). This is used for that heavy, bloated feeling after a meal. It is a functional issue, whereas 胃病 often implies a more persistent pathology.
胃炎 (wèiyán): Gastritis. This is a specific medical term. If you have been to a hospital and received a diagnosis, you might use this instead of the general 胃病.

虽然他有胃病，但这次只是普通的消化不良。 (Although he has a stomach illness, this time it's just ordinary indigestion.)

In more formal or written contexts, you might see 胃疾 (wèijí). The character 疾 also means illness but is more literary. Conversely, in very informal settings, people might just say 胃不好 (wèi bù hǎo), which literally means 'stomach is not good'. This is a very soft way of saying one has 胃病. For example, '我胃不太好' is a very common way to decline a drink or a specific dish.

Finally, there is 胃溃疡 (wèikuìyáng), which means gastric ulcer. This is another specific diagnosis that falls under the category of 胃病. When speaking with a doctor, you would move from the general 胃病 to these specific terms as the consultation progresses. For a learner at the A2 level, mastering 胃病 and 胃疼 is the most important step for daily survival and basic communication.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '胃' (wèi) contains the '肉' (flesh/meat) radical on the bottom, which is common for body parts. The top part '田' (field) is thought to represent the stomach as a 'field' where food is processed into energy.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /weɪ bɪŋ/

US /weɪ bɪŋ/

In Chinese, both characters are stressed equally as they both carry the fourth (falling) tone.

Rhymes With

对 (duì) 贵 (guì) 退 (tuì) 命 (mìng) 定 (dìng) 性 (xìng) 庆 (qìng) 镜 (jìng)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'wèi' with a rising tone (wéi), which can mean 'surround'.
Pronouncing 'bìng' with a flat tone (bīng), which means 'ice'.
Merging the two sounds together without a clear break between the characters.
Failing to make the fourth tone sharp enough, making it sound like a neutral tone.
Confusing the 'w' sound with a 'v' sound.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The characters 胃 and 病 are standard and relatively easy to recognize at the A2 level.

Writing 3/5

胃 can be tricky to write correctly (the top part is not exactly a '田').

Speaking 2/5

Simple two-syllable word with the same tone for both characters.

Listening 2/5

Very common in daily life, easy to pick up in context.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

胃 (stomach) 病 (illness) 疼 (pain) 医生 (doctor) 药 (medicine)

Learn Next

消化 (digestion) 胃炎 (gastritis) 溃疡 (ulcer) 养生 (health preservation) 规律 (regular)

Advanced

幽门螺杆菌 (H. pylori) 内窥镜 (endoscopy) 代谢 (metabolism) 病理 (pathology)

Grammar to Know

The use of '有' (yǒu) to indicate having a condition.

他有胃病。

The use of '犯' (fàn) for recurrence of chronic issues.

我的胃病又犯了。

Resultative complements with '治' (zhì).

他的胃病治好了。

Measure word '种' (zhǒng) for types of illness.

这是一种很奇怪的胃病。

Adjective placement before the noun.

严重的胃病。

Examples by Level

他有胃病。

He has a stomach illness.

Subject + 有 + 胃病.

胃病不舒服。

Stomach illness is uncomfortable.

Simple noun-adjective structure.

这是胃病吗？

Is this a stomach illness?

Basic question with 吗.

我不喜欢胃病。

I don't like stomach illness.

Negative sentence with 不.

妈妈有胃病。

Mom has a stomach illness.

Standard 'have' sentence.

胃病要吃药。

Stomach illness requires taking medicine.

Using 要 for necessity.

你有胃病吗？

Do you have a stomach illness?

Interrogative sentence.

他没有胃病。

He doesn't have a stomach illness.

Negative with 没有.

我最近胃病犯了。

My stomach illness has flared up recently.

Use of 犯 (flare up).

医生说我有轻微的胃病。

The doctor said I have a slight stomach illness.

Adjective 轻微 (slight) modifying 胃病.

因为胃病，我不吃辣。

Because of stomach illness, I don't eat spicy food.

Using 因为 (because) to show cause.

这种药治胃病很有用。

This medicine is very useful for treating stomach illness.

治 (treat) + 胃病.

他患胃病很多年了。

He has suffered from stomach illness for many years.

Using 患 (suffer from) + Duration.

你有胃病，要喝热水。

You have a stomach illness, you should drink hot water.

Cultural advice structure.

老胃病很难治好。

Chronic stomach illness is hard to cure.

Compound '老胃病' (chronic).

别担心，这不是严重的胃病。

Don't worry, this isn't a serious stomach illness.

Negative with 不是 and adjective 严重.

长期压力大是导致胃病的主要原因。

Long-term high pressure is the main cause of stomach illness.

导致 (lead to) + 胃病.

为了养好胃病，他开始规律饮食。

In order to heal his stomach illness, he started eating regularly.

Using 为了 (in order to) and 养 (nourish/heal).

这种胃病需要长期调理。

This kind of stomach illness requires long-term conditioning.

调理 (conditioning/recuperating).

如果你不注意，胃病会变成胃溃疡。

If you are not careful, stomach illness will turn into a gastric ulcer.

If... then... structure.

他通过中药治好了多年的胃病。

He cured his years of stomach illness through Chinese medicine.

通过 (through) + Method.

有胃病的人最好少喝咖啡。

People with stomach illnesses had better drink less coffee.

最好 (had better) + advice.

胃病让他瘦了很多。

Stomach illness made him lose a lot of weight.

Causative structure with 让.

我打算去医院检查一下我的胃病。

I plan to go to the hospital to check my stomach illness.

打算 (plan to) + 检查 (check).

现代都市人普遍存在不同程度的胃病。

Modern city dwellers generally have varying degrees of stomach illnesses.

普遍存在 (generally exist).

胃病患者在饮食上有很多禁忌。

Stomach illness patients have many dietary taboos.

Noun + 患者 (patient).

由于忽视了早期的胃病，他的病情恶化了。

Due to ignoring the early stomach illness, his condition worsened.

由于 (due to) + 忽视 (ignore).

心理因素对胃病的发作有很大影响。

Psychological factors have a great influence on the onset of stomach illness.

对...有影响 (have influence on).

他经常熬夜加班，结果落下了胃病。

He often stays up late working overtime, and as a result, developed a stomach illness.

结果 (as a result) + 落下 (to be left with/develop).

药物只能缓解胃病，关键还要靠养。

Medicine can only relieve stomach illness; the key is still nourishment.

只能...关键还要靠... (can only... the key depends on...).

医生详细询问了他的胃病史。

The doctor inquired in detail about his history of stomach illness.

胃病史 (stomach illness history).

这种新型疗法对慢性胃病非常有效。

This new therapy is very effective for chronic stomach illness.

对...非常有效 (very effective for...).

胃病的发病率在年轻群体中呈现上升趋势。

The incidence of stomach illness is showing an upward trend among the youth population.

发病率 (incidence rate).

长期处于焦虑状态是诱发胃病的重要诱因。

Being in a state of anxiety for a long time is an important trigger for stomach illness.

诱发 (to trigger) + 诱因 (triggering factor).

他深受胃病折磨，工作也受到了影响。

He suffered deeply from stomach illness, and his work was also affected.

深受...折磨 (deeply tortured by...).

中医认为胃病与情绪失调密切相关。

TCM believes that stomach illness is closely related to emotional imbalance.

密切相关 (closely related).

预防胃病应从改善生活习惯入手。

Preventing stomach illness should start with improving lifestyle habits.

从...入手 (start from...).

胃病的症状往往具有隐蔽性，容易被忽视。

The symptoms of stomach illness are often deceptive and easily ignored.

具有...性 (possess the quality of...).

这篇论文探讨了幽门螺杆菌与胃病的关系。

This paper explored the relationship between H. pylori and stomach illness.

探讨 (explore/discuss).

他那顽固的胃病终于在专家的指导下有所好转。

His stubborn stomach illness finally improved under the expert's guidance.

顽固 (stubborn) + 有所好转 (show some improvement).

胃病不仅是生理上的病变，更是社会压力的一种投射。

Stomach illness is not only a physiological lesion but also a projection of social pressure.

不仅是...更是... (not only... but even more...).

在某些文学作品中，胃病常被隐喻为现代文明的通病。

In some literary works, stomach illness is often used as a metaphor for the common ailments of modern civilization.

被隐喻为 (be metaphorized as).

他以其对胃病病理学的卓越研究获得了医学奖。

He won the medical award for his outstanding research on the pathology of stomach illness.

以其... (with his/its...).

这种罕见的胃病在临床上极难确诊。

This rare stomach illness is extremely difficult to diagnose clinically.

极难确诊 (extremely difficult to confirm diagnosis).

胃病患者的心理干预已成为综合治疗的重要组成部分。

Psychological intervention for stomach illness patients has become an important part of comprehensive treatment.

组成部分 (component part).

我们应当警惕那种将胃病浪漫化的倾向。

We should be wary of the tendency to romanticize stomach illness.

警惕 (be wary of) + 倾向 (tendency).

该地区的胃病高发与当地独特的饮食文化密不可分。

The high incidence of stomach illness in this area is inseparable from the unique local food culture.

密不可分 (inseparable).

他通过对胃病患者的大样本追踪调查，得出了这一结论。

He reached this conclusion through a large-sample follow-up survey of stomach illness patients.

追踪调查 (follow-up survey).

Common Collocations

患有胃病

治胃病

养胃病

老胃病

胃病发作

胃病史

引起胃病

预防胃病

胃病患者

严重胃病

Common Phrases

三分治，七分养

— A common philosophy for treating stomach illness: 30% medicine, 70% lifestyle.

对待胃病，要记住三分治，七分养。

胃病犯了

— To have a sudden flare-up of a chronic stomach condition.

今天我胃病犯了，不去开会了。

落下胃病

— To develop a chronic stomach illness due to poor habits over time.

年轻时不注意，老了会落下胃病。

得了胃病

— To have contracted or developed a stomach illness.

他最近得了胃病，瘦了很多。

治好胃病

— To completely cure a stomach illness.

他终于治好了多年的胃病。

职业性胃病

— Stomach illness caused by work-related stress or irregular schedules.

程序员很容易得职业性胃病。

胃病禁忌

— Dietary or lifestyle things to avoid when one has a stomach illness.

你知道胃病有哪些禁忌吗？

慢性胃病

— Chronic stomach illness.

慢性胃病需要长期服药。

急性胃病

— Acute stomach illness.

他突发急性胃病，被送往医院。

胃病根治

— To radically cure or eliminate the root of a stomach illness.

这种手术可以胃病根治吗？

Often Confused With

胃病 vs 胃疼 (wèiténg)

胃疼 is the symptom (pain), while 胃病 is the illness/diagnosis.

胃病 vs 肚子疼 (dùzi téng)

肚子疼 is a general stomach ache (often lower abdomen), while 胃病 is specific to the stomach organ.

胃病 vs 感冒 (gǎnmào)

Learners sometimes confuse general 'sickness' (感冒/生病) with the specific '胃病'.

Idioms & Expressions

"废寝忘食"

— To forget to eat and sleep due to hard work; often cited as a cause of 胃病.

他废寝忘食地工作，结果得了胃病。

Literary/Common

"牵肠挂肚"

— To be very worried; literal 'tugging at intestines and hanging on stomach'.

孩子生病，妈妈真是牵肠挂肚。

Literary

"狼吞虎咽"

— To wolf down food; a major cause of stomach illness.

吃饭不要狼吞虎咽，容易得胃病。

Colloquial

"暴饮暴食"

— To eat and drink immoderately; direct cause of gastric issues.

暴饮暴食是胃病的大忌。

Common

"茶饭不思"

— To have no appetite due to worry or illness.

自从得了胃病，他总是茶饭不思。

Literary

"愁肠百结"

— Deeply worried or depressed; often leading to physical stomach discomfort.

他为了这件事愁肠百结，胃病也犯了。

Literary

"酒肉朋友"

— Friends who only hang out for food and drink; can lead to stomach issues.

少和那些酒肉朋友鬼混，对你的胃病没好处。

Informal

"饥不择食"

— To eat anything when hungry; can cause acute stomach problems.

饿极了也不能饥不择食，小心胃病。

Literary

"细嚼慢咽"

— To chew thoroughly and swallow slowly; the cure for 胃病.

养成细嚼慢咽的习惯，有助于缓解胃病。

Common

"病从口入"

— Illness enters through the mouth; very relevant to 胃病.

病从口入，预防胃病要注意卫生。

Common

Easily Confused

胃病 vs 胃疼

Both involve the stomach and feeling unwell.

胃疼 is a temporary sensation of pain. 胃病 is a medical condition or chronic illness.

我今天胃疼，但我没有胃病。

胃病 vs 胃口

Both start with '胃'.

胃口 means appetite. 胃病 is an illness.

虽然我有胃病，但我今天的胃口很好。

胃病 vs 肠胃

Both relate to digestion.

肠胃 refers to the 'intestines and stomach' together. 胃病 is specific to the stomach.

他的肠胃系统都不太好，所以经常得胃病。

胃病 vs 生病

Both contain the character '病'.

生病 is a general verb for 'getting sick'. 胃病 is a specific noun for 'stomach illness'.

他生病了，得的是胃病。

胃病 vs 胃炎

Both are stomach illnesses.

胃炎 is a specific medical diagnosis (gastritis). 胃病 is the general category.

医生说他的胃病其实是慢性胃炎。

Sentence Patterns

Subject + 有 + 胃病。

我有胃病。

Subject + 因为 + 胃病 + Result。

他因为胃病不能去上班。

Subject + 患有 + (Adjective) + 胃病。

他患有严重的胃病。

Subject + 胃病 + 犯了。

我的老胃病又犯了。

Verb + 胃病 + 的原因。

引起胃病的原因有很多。

Subject + 靠 + 养 + 治好 + 胃病。

他靠饮食调理养好了胃病。

胃病 + 的发病率 + Verb。

胃病的发病率正在升高。

Subject + 深受 + 胃病 + 之苦。

他深受胃病之苦。

Word Family

Nouns

胃 (stomach)

病 (illness)

病人 (patient)

病因 (cause of illness)

病房 (hospital ward)

Verbs

生病 (to get sick)

治病 (to treat illness)

看病 (to see a doctor)

养病 (to recuperate)

Adjectives

病态 (morbid)

病弱 (sickly and weak)

胃炎

胃疼

胃口

消化

肠胃

How to Use It

frequency

High, especially in discussions about food, health, and work-life balance.

Common Mistakes

Using '胃病' for a simple stomach ache. → 胃疼 (wèiténg)
胃病 implies a chronic condition, while 胃疼 is just the feeling of pain.
Saying '我很胃病' (I am very stomach illness). → 我的胃病很严重。
胃病 is a noun, not an adjective. You cannot be 'very' a noun.
Confusing '胃' (stomach) with '肚子' (belly). → 胃病 (for stomach specifically) or 肚子疼 (for general belly ache).
Using 胃病 for intestinal issues is medically incorrect in Chinese.
Using '是' instead of '有'. → 我有胃病。
You 'have' an illness, you are not the illness itself.
Pronouncing '病' as 'bīng' (1st tone). → bìng (4th tone)
Bīng means ice, while bìng means illness. Very different meanings!

Tips

The Hot Water Cure

If you tell a Chinese person you have 胃病, they will almost certainly offer you hot water. This is because cold water is believed to irritate the stomach and worsen the illness.

Safe Excuse

If you are in a social situation where you don't want to drink alcohol, saying '我有胃病' is one of the most respected and unquestioned excuses in China.

Verb Pairing

Always pair 胃病 with '有' (have), '得' (get), or '犯' (recur). Never use it as an adjective (e.g., don't say 'I am very stomach-illness').

Congee is King

The most common food for people with 胃病 is '粥' (zhōu - congee/porridge). It is considered the best food to '养胃' (nourish the stomach).

Tone Mastery

Both characters in 胃病 are 4th tone (falling). Imagine you are firmly stamping your foot twice as you say 'wèi-bìng'.

Character Detail

Be careful with the top of 胃. It looks like '田', but it's actually derived from a picture of a stomach full of food. Keep your lines clean!

Medical Context

In a hospital, don't be afraid to start with '胃病'. The doctor will then ask specific questions to narrow down the diagnosis to something like 胃炎 or 胃溃疡.

老胃病

Using '老胃病' (lǎo wèibìng) makes you sound very native. It shows you understand the chronic nature of these issues in a Chinese context.

Avoid Spicy

Mentioning 胃病 is the fastest way to get a waiter to recommend '清淡' (qīngdàn - light/bland) dishes.

Stress Link

In modern China, 胃病 is often synonymous with a busy, high-pressure lifestyle. Use it to express that you've been working too hard.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Way' (wèi) and 'Bing' (bìng). 'The WAY to get sick (BING) is to hurt your stomach.'

Visual Association

Imagine a stomach (胃) with a red 'X' or a medical cross (病) over it.

Word Web

胃 (Stomach) 病 (Illness) 胃疼 (Stomach Pain) 医生 (Doctor) 药 (Medicine) 吃饭 (Eat) 养 (Nourish) 健康 (Health)

Challenge

Try to explain to a friend why you can't eat a very spicy dish using the word '胃病' and the reason '饮食不规律' (irregular eating).

Word Origin

The word is a combination of two ancient Chinese characters. '胃' (wèi) dates back to oracle bone script, representing the stomach organ. '病' (bìng) originally referred to a serious illness or disease.

Original meaning: A physical ailment specifically located in the stomach organ.

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

It is a safe and polite topic; however, don't press for details unless you are a close friend or doctor.

English speakers might say 'I have a sensitive stomach' or 'I have acid reflux' rather than the broad 'stomach illness'.

Traditional Chinese Medicine manuals like 'Huangdi Neijing' discuss stomach health extensively. Modern C-dramas often use '胃病' as a plot device for overworked characters. Health influencers on platforms like WeChat and Xiaohongshu frequently post about '养胃' (nourishing the stomach).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At a Restaurant

我有胃病，不吃辣。
请给我一杯温水，我有胃病。
有没有清淡点的菜？我有胃病。
我不喝酒，胃病犯了。

At the Doctor

我怀疑我有胃病。
我的胃病经常复发。
这个药怎么治胃病？
我有胃病史。

In the Office

他胃病犯了，请假了。
压力太大，容易得胃病。
我们去吃粥吧，我胃病犯了。
别太累了，小心胃病。

With Family

你要好好养胃病。
别喝冰的，对胃病不好。
这就是老胃病，没事。
妈，我的胃病好了。

In a Pharmacy

有没有治胃病的药？
这种胃病药怎么吃？
这是中药治胃病吗？
哪种药对胃病最有效？

Conversation Starters

"你最近胃口怎么样？我听说你有点胃病。"

"你平时是怎么调理胃病的？我的胃也不太舒服。"

"你知道哪些食物对胃病患者比较好吗？"

"你的胃病好点了吗？还要继续吃药吗？"

"经常加班的人是不是都很容易得胃病？"

Journal Prompts

写一写你或者你的家人是如何应对胃病的。

你认为现代人的胃病主要是由什么引起的？

描述一次你胃病犯了的经历，以及你当时的感觉。

如果你有胃病，你会选择中医还是西医来治疗？为什么？

谈谈饮食习惯对预防胃病的重要性。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

胃疼 (wèiténg) refers to the acute sensation of pain in the stomach area at a specific moment. 胃病 (wèibìng) refers to a chronic or diagnosed illness of the stomach. You can have 胃疼 because you ate too much, but you have 胃病 if you have a recurring medical issue like an ulcer.

No, it's better to use 胃疼 or 肚子疼 for a one-time occurrence. Using 胃病 implies a more serious or long-term condition.

You can say '我有胃病' (Wǒ yǒu wèibìng). This is a standard and polite way to explain why you might have dietary restrictions.

In Chinese culture, common causes include 饮食不规律 (irregular eating), 压力大 (high stress), and eating too much 辛辣 (spicy) or 生冷 (raw/cold) food.

It is a neutral word. It is used in daily conversation, but it is also acceptable in medical contexts to describe the general category of a patient's problem.

'老' (lǎo) means old/chronic. So '老胃病' refers to a stomach condition that someone has suffered from for a very long time.

Usually, no measure word is needed when saying '我有胃病'. If you want to say 'a kind of stomach illness', you use '一种胃病' (yī zhǒng wèibìng).

You use the verb '治' (zhì). For example, '治胃病' (treat stomach illness) or '治好胃病' (cure stomach illness).

No, 'indigestion' is '消化不良' (xiāohuà bùliáng). 胃病 is a broader term that can include indigestion as a symptom, but usually refers to the underlying illness.

In Chinese culture, the stomach is seen as a sensitive organ that requires long-term care and 'warmth' to heal properly. Medicine is seen as a quick fix, while '养' (nourishing) is seen as the way to truly cure 胃病.