你生病了吗？
nǐ shēngbìng le ma?
The English phrase "are you sick?" can be translated into Chinese as 你生病了吗？ (nǐ shēngbìng le ma?)
This phrase is used to ask if someone is suffering from an illness or a health problem.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 你生病了吗？ is composed of 你 (you), 生病 (to fall ill), 了 (an aspect particle indicating a change of state) and 吗 (a question particle).
Which one should you use?
While 你生病了吗？ asks if someone is sick in a general sense, 你哪里不舒服？ is a more common and polite way to ask someone what is wrong when they look unwell.
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ shēngbìng le ma?
Did you know?
- When someone responds that they are sick, it is common for a Chinese friend to suggest 'drinking more hot water' 多喝热水. This is a ubiquitous piece of advice that serves as a general expression of care regardless of the specific illness.
- The word 生 in 生病 usually means 'to give birth' or 'life'. In the context of illness, it describes the 'birth' or emergence of a disease within the body.
- The word 病 (bìng), which means 'illness', is also used in the word 病人 (bìngrén) to mean 'patient', but in some contexts, it can imply a 'malfunction' in a machine.
Examples in context
- Nǐ shēngbìng le ma? (你生病了吗?)Are you sick?
- Nín gǎnjué bù shūfu ma? (您感觉不舒服吗?)Do you feel unwell?
- Nǐ bù shūfu ma? (你不舒服吗?)Are you unwell?
- 看你脸色不好，你生病了吗？Kàn nǐ liǎnsè bù hǎo, nǐ shēngbìng le ma?You look pale, are you sick?
- 昨天你生病了吗？Zuótiān nǐ shēngbìng le ma?Were you sick yesterday?
Example conversation
Jia Yi notices Zhi Qiang looking tired at the office.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，你生病了吗？Zhìqiáng, nǐ shēngbìng le ma?Zhi Qiang, are you sick?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我好像有点感冒了。Wǒ hǎoxiàng yǒudiǎn gǎnmào le.I think I have a cold.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你要去医院吗？Nǐ yào qù yīyuàn ma?Do you need to go to the hospital?
- 志强 Zhiqiang不用，休息一下就好了。Bùyòng, xiūxi yíxià jiù hǎo le.No, I'll be fine after a little rest.
