患病

• Pinyin: huàn bìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 患 = 串 + 心 (troubles on the heart); 病 = 疒 + 丙 (illness radical + third heavenly stem, suggesting affliction)

Meaning

To fall ill; to contract a disease; to be afflicted with illness.

A formal expression for falling ill, used in medical, official, and written contexts. More formal than 生病 and typically implies a more serious or clinically recognised condition. Common in medical reports, official announcements, and formal correspondence.

Examples

1. 长期处于高压环境中工作，极易导致员工患病，影响团队整体效能。 Working long-term in a high-pressure environment can easily lead employees to fall ill, reducing the team’s overall effectiveness.
2. 他的父亲突然患病住院，家人焦急万分，赶赴医院探视。 His father suddenly fell ill and was hospitalized; the family was extremely worried and rushed to the hospital to visit him.
3. 调查显示，不良饮食习惯与多种慢性病的患病风险密切相关。 Surveys show that poor eating habits are closely linked to a higher risk of developing a range of chronic diseases.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, official, health, formal writing

Tone: clinical

Do Say

• 根据流行病学调查，该地区居民患糖尿病的风险明显高于全国平均水平，亟需加强健康干预措施。(According to epidemiological surveys, residents in the region face a markedly higher risk of contracting diabetes than the national average, urgently requiring strengthened health intervention measures.)
• 员工连续加班三个月后患病，公司须依法承担相应的工伤认定和医疗补偿责任。(After an employee fell ill following three consecutive months of overtime work, the company must assume corresponding work-injury recognition and medical compensation responsibilities in accordance with the law.)

Don't Say

• 患病 in casual speech — use 生病 in everyday conversation; 患病 is formal and clinical in register

Origin & History

患 (to suffer from affliction) + 病 (illness/disease) — to suffer from illness

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal