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轻伤 (qīng shāng) — minor injury, slight wound

Definition

In legal and medical contexts, 轻伤 is a formal category for injuries that are not life-threatening but more serious than a mere scrape. It contrasts with 重伤 (serious/grievous injury) and carries legal weight in assault cases.

noun
minor injuryslight wound
Measure word · 处

Examples

  • 轻伤，。
    Tā zài shì gù zhōng zhī shòu le qīng shāng, méi yǒu shēng mìng wēi xiǎn.
    He only suffered minor injuries in the accident and was not in danger.
  • 轻伤，。
    Yī shēng shuō tā zhè zhǐ shì qīng shāng, xiū xi jǐ tiān jiù hǎo le.
    The doctor said this is just a minor wound; he'll be fine after resting a few days.
  • 轻伤，。
    Suī rán shì qīng shāng, dàn yě xū yào rèn zhēn chǔ lǐ.
    Although it's a minor injury, it still needs careful treatment.

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.

轻qīngslight
伤shāngwound

轻 (slight) and 伤 (wound) together mean a minor wound.

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 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

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 傷; 伤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
𥏻
𥏻𥏻傷shāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 傷 shows 人, a person, and uses 𥏻 to give the sound; the simplified 伤 is a later shorthand.

Open 伤 →
Appears in
Injury & Disability

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