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红眼病 (hóng yǎn bìng) — pinkeye, conjunctivitis; (figurative) envy, jealousy (of others' success)

Definition

Literally 'red-eye disease', a colloquial term for pinkeye (conjunctivitis). Figuratively, it means petty envy of others' success — a mild, dismissive label rather than deep jealousy.

noun
pinkeyeconjunctivitis(figurative) envyjealousy (of others' success)

Examples

  • 红眼病，。
    Tā dé le hóng yǎn bìng, yǎn jing yòu hóng yòu yǎng.
    He got pinkeye; his eyes are red and itchy.
  • ，红眼病。
    Kàn dào tóng shì shēng zhí, tā fàn le hóng yǎn bìng.
    Seeing his colleague get promoted, he became jealous.
  • 红眼病。
    Tā zǒng shì duì bié rén de chéng gōng fàn hóng yǎn bìng.
    She is always jealous of others' success.

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.

红眼red eye
红hóngred眼yǎneye
偏正Modifier + head
病bìngdisease

红 means red, 眼 means eye, and 病 means disease; together it is a red-eye 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 紅; 红 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng紅hóng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 紅 puts 糸 (silk) next to 工, which gives the sound; the simplified 红 is a later shorthand.

Open 红 →

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
目目mùeye
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn眼yǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

眼 combines 目, which is an eye, with 艮, which gives the character's sound.

Open 眼 →

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 →
Appears in
Emotions & FeelingsIllness & Symptoms

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