病理 (bìng lǐ) — pathology (the study of diseases); pathological… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to the disease process itself — both the field of study ('pathology') and the abnormal changes in the body caused by illness. Often combines with 学 (病理学, the academic discipline) or 变化 (病理变化, the changes themselves).

noun

pathology (the study of diseases)pathological changesdisease process

Examples

。
Zhè wèi yī shēng zhuān gōng bìng lǐ xué.
This doctor specializes in pathology.
病理。
Bìng rén de bìng lǐ bào gào xiǎn shì yǒu yán zhòng wèn tí.
The patient's pathology report shows a serious problem.
病理。
Yán jiū bìng lǐ biàn huà yǒu zhù yú lǐ jiě jí bìng fā zhǎn.
Studying pathological changes helps understand disease progression.

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.

病bìngdisease

理lǐprinciple

Disease and principle combine to mean the principles of disease.

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.

疒丙病

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.

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

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

里

里lǐ理lǐ

Same sound today

理 pairs 玉 (jade) with 里, which shows how to say it; the jade part points to the old sense of polishing jade.

Appears in

Medicine & Treatment

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