保健

• Pinyin: bǎo jiàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 保 = 亻(person) + 呆, to protect; 健 = 亻(person) + 建, healthy

Meaning

Health care; health preservation. Activities and practices aimed at maintaining and improving health.

Encompasses various practices for maintaining good health, including exercise, nutrition, regular check-ups, and preventive medicine. Often appears in compounds like 保健品 (health supplements), 保健操 (health exercises), and 保健食品 (health foods).

Examples

1. 老年人应该定期做保健检查，及早发现问题。 Elderly people should have regular health check-ups to detect problems early.
2. 她每天做保健操，身体一直很健康。 She does health exercises every day and has always been in good health.
3. 市面上的保健品种类繁多，选购时要谨慎。 There are many types of health supplements on the market — be careful when purchasing.

Usage Guide

Context: health, wellness

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 注意保健，才能延年益寿。(Pay attention to health care in order to live a long and healthy life.)
• 这款保健茶据说有很好的效果。(This health tea is said to have very good effects.)

Don't Say

• 不要把'保健'和'治疗'混为一谈 (Don't confuse 保健 with 治疗 — 保健 is about prevention and maintenance, while 治疗 is about treating illness)

Origin & History

Compound of 保 (to protect, maintain) + 健 (health, healthy), meaning to maintain health.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal