病症

• Pinyin: bìng zhèng
• Hanzi breakdown: 病 = 疒 (illness) + 丙; 症 = 疒 (illness) + 正 (correct), meaning the defining characteristics of an illness

Meaning

Symptoms of illness; disease condition; medical condition and its manifestations.

Refers to the observable signs and manifestations of a disease, distinct from 病因 (cause) or 病名 (name of disease). Used in medical contexts and metaphorically for social problems.

Examples

1. 医生详细询问了他的病症，初步判断是消化系统的问题。 The doctor asked detailed questions about his symptoms and preliminarily determined it was a digestive system issue.
2. 这种病症在早期不易察觉，往往延误治疗时机。 This condition is hard to detect in its early stages, often delaying treatment.
3. 腐败是社会的病症，需要从制度层面加以治理。 Corruption is a disease of society that needs to be addressed at the institutional level.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, healthcare, metaphorical

Tone: clinical

Do Say

• 请描述一下你的病症。(Please describe your symptoms.)
• 这种病症需要长期治疗。(This condition requires long-term treatment.)

Don't Say

• 我有点头疼的病症。(For minor ailments, just say 我头疼 — 病症 implies a more significant medical condition)

Origin & History

病 (illness) + 症 (symptom, condition). A compound emphasizing the symptomatic manifestation of illness.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal