慢性病 (màn xìng bìng) — chronic disease

Definition

A long-lasting disease that progresses slowly and is managed rather than cured. The opposite is 急性病 (acute illness), which comes on suddenly.

noun
chronic disease
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 慢性病，。
    Tā dé le màn xìng bìng, xū yào cháng qī zhì liáo.
    He has a chronic disease and needs long-term treatment.
  • 慢性病。
    Hěn duō màn xìng bìng kě yǐ tōng guò jiàn kāng yǐn shí lái yù fáng.
    Many chronic diseases can be prevented through a healthy diet.
  • 慢性病。
    Yī shēng jiàn yì tā dìng qī jiǎn chá màn xìng bìng.
    The doctor advised him to check his chronic disease regularly.

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.

慢性chronic
慢mànslow性xìngcharacteristic
偏正Modifier + head
病bìngdisease

慢性 (chronic) describes 病 (disease), a long-lasting illness.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
曼
曼màn慢màn
Same sound today

慢 pairs 忄 (heart) with 曼 (màn). The heart part points to a manner or sluggish behavior, while 曼’s meaning “long, extended” adds the sense of taking a long time.

Open 慢 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →

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 →

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