复发

• Pinyin: fù fā
• Hanzi breakdown: 复 = 彳 + 日 + 夂 (repeat, return); 发 = 癶 + 弓 (send out, break out, occur)

Meaning

To relapse; to recur. Refers to a disease, problem, or condition returning after a period of recovery or remission.

Primarily a medical term: 疾病复发 (disease relapse), 癌症复发 (cancer recurrence), 旧伤复发 (old injury flaring up again). Also used metaphorically for recurring social problems or habits. 防止复发 (prevent relapse) is a key phrase in rehabilitation and addiction contexts.

Examples

1. 由于未能坚持按疗程用药，他的慢性病在半年后再度复发。 Because he didn’t stick to the prescribed course of medication, his chronic illness relapsed six months later.
2. 医生警告她，过度劳累是导致病情复发的主要诱因之一，必须注意休息。 The doctor warned her that overexertion is one of the main triggers for relapse, and that she must rest.
3. 这一地区的地方性疟疾每逢雨季便容易复发，防治工作不能松懈。 In this region, endemic malaria tends to recur during the rainy season, so prevention and control efforts cannot be relaxed.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, health, rehabilitation

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 手术后的康复期至关重要，任何疏忽都可能导致并发症复发。(The recovery period after surgery is critical — any negligence may cause complications to recur.)
• 研究人员正在开发新型疗法，旨在降低抑郁症的复发率。(Researchers are developing novel therapies aimed at reducing the recurrence rate of depression.)

Don't Say

• 复发了一个想法 — 复发 is used for illnesses and conditions; use 重新想到 or 再度浮现 when an idea or memory comes back

Origin & History

复 (again/return) + 发 (occur/break out)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal