溃疡 (kuì yáng) — ulcer

Definition

A medical term for an ulcer — an open sore on a body surface such as the stomach, skin, or mouth lining. It refers to the lesion itself, not the general condition.

noun
ulcer

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā zuì jìn dé le wèi kuì yáng, yì zhí zài chī yào.
    He recently developed a stomach ulcer and has been taking medication.
  • 溃疡。
    Yī shēng jiàn yì yòng zhè zhǒng yào gāo zhì liáo pí fū kuì yáng.
    The doctor recommends using this ointment to treat skin ulcers.
  • 溃疡，。
    Kǒu qiāng kuì yáng suī rán xiǎo, dàn chī fàn shí huì hěn téng.
    Although mouth ulcers are small, they hurt a lot when eating.

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.

溃kuìfestering
疡yángsore

“溃” suggests festering and “疡” a sore, together naming an ulcer.

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 潰; 溃 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
貴
貴guì潰kuì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 潰 pairs 氵 (water) with 貴 for sound; the simplified 溃 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the old sound part.

Open 溃 →

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 瘍; 疡 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
疒疒nèillness
Sound part声符shēngfú
昜
昜yáng瘍yáng
Same sound today

The traditional form 瘍 pairs 疒, showing illness, with 昜 as a sound component; the simplified 疡 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in
Illness & Symptoms

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