Definition
内伤 literally means 'internal injury' but covers three distinct domains. In Western medicine, it refers to internal physical trauma (organ damage from accidents or blows). In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it describes internal disharmony caused by emotional imbalances or organ dysfunction. In everyday speech, it's often used metaphorically for deep emotional or psychological hurt that isn't visible on the surface. The 'ideological impairment' sense (from the original gloss) is rare and mostly appears in political discourse.
n.
internal injury (physical trauma to organs or tissues)(TCM) internal disorder caused by emotional imbalance or organ dysfunctionfigurative emotional or psychological hurt
Examples
- ，，内伤。Tā chū le chēhuò, suīrán wàibiǎo méi shì, dàn nèi shāng hěn yánzhòng.He was in a car accident — though he looked fine externally, his internal injuries were serious.
- 内伤，腑。Zhōngyī rènwéi chángqī yōuyù huì dǎozhì nèi shāng, sǔnshāng zàngfǔ gōngnéng.According to TCM, long-term melancholy can cause internal disorders and impair organ function.
- ，内伤。Zhè cì fēnshǒu duì tā dǎjī hěn dà, liú xià le nányǐ yùhé de nèi shāng.This breakup hit her hard, leaving an emotional wound that was hard to heal.
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