通病 (tōng bìng) — common failing; widespread problem

Definition

A 通病 is a common flaw or weakness shared across a group — something many people, companies, or systems all suffer from, not an individual mistake.

noun
common failingwidespread problem

Examples

  • 通病。
    Hěn duō gōng sī de tōng bìng shì quē fá chuàng xīn.
    A common failing of many companies is a lack of innovation.
  • 通病。
    Tuō yán shì xiàn dài rén de yí gè tōng bìng.
    Procrastination is a common problem of modern people.
  • 通病。
    Jiào yù xì tǒng de tōng bìng shì guò dù yìng shì.
    A common failing of the education system is excessive test-taking.

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.

通tōngcommon
病bìngfailing

通 means common and 病 means failing, so it is a common failing or widespread problem.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng通tōng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.

Open 通 →

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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