癌症

• Pinyin: ái zhèng
• Hanzi breakdown: 癌 = 疒 + 嵒; 症 = 疒 (illness) + 正 (correct/phonetic)

Meaning

Cancer (the disease). The general term for malignant tumors.

The standard term for cancer as a disease category. More commonly used in everyday speech than 癌 alone. Often paired with specific types (癌症患者 cancer patient, 癌症治疗 cancer treatment).

Examples

1. 这家医院的癌症治疗技术在国内处于领先水平。 This hospital's cancer treatment technology is at the leading level domestically.
2. 很多癌症如果发现得早，其实是可以治愈的。 Many cancers can actually be cured if detected early.
3. 她一直在为癌症研究机构捐款，希望能帮助更多患者。 She has been donating to cancer research organizations, hoping to help more patients.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, everyday

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 癌症筛查很重要。(Cancer screening is very important.)
• 他战胜了癌症，成了很多人的榜样。(He beat cancer and became a role model for many.)

Don't Say

• 用'癌症'形容小问题，如'这个软件有癌症' (Don't use 癌症 metaphorically for minor problems — it trivializes the disease)

Origin & History

癌 (cancer) + 症 (illness/condition). 症 formalizes it as a disease category.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal