老弱病残 (lǎo ruò bìng cán) — the old, weak, sick, and disabled (as a collective group)

Definition

A collective term for 'the old, weak, sick, and disabled' as a single group, used in formal contexts like priority seating, welfare, and policy. It's a set phrase — don't split the four characters apart.

noun
the oldweaksickand disabled (as a collective group)

Examples

  • 老弱病残。
    Gōng jiāo chē shàng yǒu lǎo ruò bìng cán zhuān zuò.
    There are priority seats for the old, weak, sick, and disabled on the bus.
  • 老弱病残。
    Zhè ge shè qū wèi lǎo ruò bìng cán tí gōng le hěn duō bāng zhù.
    This community provides a lot of help for the old, weak, sick, and disabled.
  • 老弱病残。
    Wǒ men yīng gāi zūn zhòng lǎo ruò bìng cán.
    We should respect the old, weak, sick, and disabled.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

老弱old and weak
老lǎoold弱ruòweak
联合Side by side
病残sick and disabled
病bìngsick残cándisabled
联合Side by side

老, 弱, 病, and 残 name old, weak, sick, and disabled people as one group.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 老 combines 人 (man), 毛 (hair), and 匕 (cane), showing a man with long hair leaning on a cane.

Open 老 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 彡彡shānhair, meaning "decoration" in this case

弱 pairs 弓 (bow) with 彡 (hair), showing a decorative bow that is functionally inferior, or a shaking, worn-out bow.

Open 弱 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
疒疒nèsickness
Sound part声符shēngfú
丙
丙bǐng病bìng
Same sound today

病 pairs 疒, a sickness mark, with 丙, which gives the sound; 丙 also means fire, giving a picture of lying feverishly in bed.

Open 病 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 殘; 残 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
歹歹dǎivicious, bones
Sound part声符shēngfú
戔
戔jiān殘cán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 殘 pairs 歹, a bone shape for injury, with 戔 for its sound; the simplified 残 is a later shorthand.

Open 残 →

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