传染病

• Pinyin: chuán rǎn bìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 传染 = to infect/contagious; 病 = 疒 (illness) + 丙 (phonetic) = disease

Meaning

Infectious disease; contagious disease. Any disease that can spread from person to person or from animals to humans.

A medical and public health term covering diseases like flu, tuberculosis, COVID-19, etc. 传染病防治法 (Law on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases) is an important Chinese law. Often appears in news and health discussions.

Examples

1. 政府加强了对传染病的监测和预警系统。 The government has strengthened the monitoring and early warning system for infectious diseases.
2. 新冠肺炎是近年来影响最广的传染病。 COVID-19 is the most widespread infectious disease in recent years.
3. 儿童应该按时接种疫苗，预防常见传染病。 Children should be vaccinated on schedule to prevent common infectious diseases.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, public health, news

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 传染病的防控需要全社会共同参与。(The prevention and control of infectious diseases requires the participation of the whole society.)
• 这家医院专门收治传染病患者。(This hospital specializes in treating patients with infectious diseases.)

Don't Say

• 他得了传染病的感冒 (Redundant — 传染病 already implies it's contagious; just say 他感冒了 or 他得了流感)

Origin & History

Compound of 传染 (to infect, contagious) and 病 (disease). A straightforward compound describing diseases that spread.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal