强迫症 (qiáng pò zhèng) — obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); (colloquial) a tendency to be overly meticulous or perfectionistic

Definition

Strictly a clinical term for OCD. In everyday talk it's loosely used as a self-deprecating label for being overly fussy or perfectionistic — 'I'm a bit OCD about…'.

noun
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)(colloquial) a tendency to be overly meticulous or perfectionistic

Examples

  • 强迫症，。
    Yī shēng shuō tā dé le qiáng pò zhèng, xū yào jiē shòu zhì liáo.
    The doctor said he has OCD and needs treatment.
  • 强迫症，。
    Wǒ yǒu diǎn qiáng pò zhèng, kàn dào dōng xī bǎi bù zhěng qí jiù nán shòu.
    I'm a bit OCD — I feel uncomfortable when things aren't arranged neatly.
  • ，强迫症。
    Tā zǒng shì fǎn fù jiǎn chá mén suǒ, kě néng shì qiáng pò zhèng de biǎo xiàn.
    She always checks the door lock repeatedly — it might be a sign of OCD.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

强迫force
强qiángforce迫pòcompel
联合Side by side
症zhèngillness

“强” and “迫” both give force, “症” gives illness, together naming a compulsive disorder.

Characters in this word

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 強; 强 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 強 pairs an insect component with a sound component; this explains 強, not the simplified 强.

Open 强 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái迫pò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The form 迫 pairs the walking radical 辶 (written in full as 辵) with 白, which gives the sound.

Open 迫 →

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nèdisease
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng症zhèng
Same sound today

The left part 疒 shows it is about disease. The right part 正 is used for the sound.

Open 症 →
Appears in
Mental Health

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