過敏 / 过敏
guòmǐn
The English phrase "allergic" is 過敏 / 过敏 (guòmǐn) in Chinese. Wiktionary also lists 過敏性 / 过敏性 (guòmǐnxìng).
Meaning: having an allergy (adj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 過敏 / 过敏 | guòmǐn |
| 過敏性 / 过敏性 | guòmǐnxìng |
To express that you are allergic to a specific substance, use the pattern 對…過敏 / 对…过敏 (allergic to…).
Which one should you use?
While 過敏 / 过敏 can function as a noun meaning "allergy" or a verb meaning "to have an allergy," the form 過敏性 / 过敏性 is the specific adjectival form used for medical terms.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 過敏性 / 过敏性 is used when the word functions as an attributive adjective to modify a noun, such as in the phrase "allergic rhinitis."
How do you pronounce it?
guòmǐn
Did you know?
- If a person says 我對你過敏了 / 我对你过敏了, they are not actually saying they are medically allergic to you, but are often using a humorous way to say 'you are annoying me'.
- In Chinese medicine, the concept of 過敏 / 过敏 is often linked to 風 / fēng or 'wind', as allergic reactions like hives are traditionally viewed as 'wind-heat' or 'wind-cold' invading the body.
- When discussing food allergies in China, people often use the phrase 忌口 / jìkǒu meaning 'to avoid certain foods' during a meal, which encompasses both medical allergies and religious or dietary restrictions.
Examples in context
- 他对花粉过敏。He is allergic to pollen.
- 我是过敏体质，对灰尘过敏。I have an allergic constitution and am allergic to dust.
- 她对花粉容易过敏。She is prone to allergies from pollen.
- 我对猫过敏。I am allergic to cats.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “allergic” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
