后遗症

• Pinyin: hòu yí zhèng
• Hanzi breakdown: 后 — after; 遗 = 辶 (movement) + 贵 (precious, phonetic) — to leave behind; 症 = 疒 (illness radical) + 正 (phonetic) — symptom

Meaning

Sequela; after-effect; lingering consequence. A condition or problem that persists or arises as a result of a past illness, injury, or event.

Originally a medical term for complications remaining after an illness, now widely used figuratively to describe negative consequences that persist long after the original cause. 留下后遗症 (to be left with lasting after-effects) is a very common phrase.

Examples

1. 他从车祸中死里逃生，却留下了严重的后遗症，此后长期饱受头痛困扰。 He narrowly survived the car crash, but it left him with serious aftereffects, and he has suffered from headaches for a long time since.
2. 这场经济危机的后遗症远未消退，许多中小企业至今仍在艰难挣扎。 The aftereffects of this economic crisis are far from over, and many small and medium-sized businesses are still struggling to this day.
3. 政策制定者必须充分预判改革措施可能带来的后遗症，提前制定应对预案。 Policymakers must fully anticipate the potential aftereffects of reform measures and prepare response plans in advance.

Usage Guide

Context: medicine, economics, politics, social issues

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 疫情结束后，许多康复者仍然承受着各种各样的后遗症，包括持续性疲劳、记忆力减退以及呼吸功能异常等问题。(Even after the epidemic ended, many recovered patients continued to suffer from a variety of sequelae, including persistent fatigue, reduced memory, and respiratory abnormalities.)
• 这场政治丑闻的后遗症已经蔓延至整个执政党，严重削弱了公众对政府机构的信任基础。(The after-effects of this political scandal have spread throughout the ruling party, seriously undermining the public's trust in government institutions.)

Don't Say

• 后遗症 for minor or temporary inconveniences — the term implies a serious or lasting negative consequence; use 影响 or 副作用 for milder, shorter-term effects

Origin & History

后 (after) + 遗 (leave behind) + 症 (symptom; condition) — a symptom left behind afterward

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal