糖尿病人
tángniàobìngrén
The English phrase 'diabetic' is translated into Mandarin as 糖尿病人 (tángniàobìngrén).
While 糖尿病人 describes the individual, the noun used to name the disease itself is 糖尿病.
Meaning: having diabetes (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 糖尿病人 is composed of 糖尿 (sugar urine/diabetes), 病 (illness) and 人 (person).
Which one should you use?
In medical or professional contexts, 糖尿病患者 is often used instead to specifically denote a diabetes patient.
How does it change in a sentence?
While 糖尿病人 refers to the person, 糖尿病 is the noun used to name the disease itself.
How do you pronounce it?
tángniàobìngrén
Did you know?
- While 糖尿病人 is the standard term, Chinese culture often avoids mentioning the word 病 (illness) directly in social settings to avoid bad luck or stigma, sometimes referring to the condition as 血糖高 (high blood sugar) instead.
- The character 糖 (sugar) in 糖尿病人 is a relatively modern addition to the language, as ancient Chinese medicine categorized similar symptoms under 'wasting and thirsting' (消渴) long before 'sugar' was a known concept.
- If you were describing a 'diabetic diet' in Chinese, you would often see the word 控糖 (sugar control) instead of a literal translation of 'diabetic'. This focuses on the action of managing the substance rather than the status of the person.
Examples in context
- 我的父亲是一位糖尿病患者。My father is a diabetic patient.
- 这位病人需要定期注射胰岛素，因为他是糖尿病人。This patient needs regular insulin injections because he is a diabetic person.
- 他是一位糖尿病人。Tā shì yī wèi tángliàobìng rén.He is a diabetic.
- 糖尿病人不能吃太多糖。Tángliàobìng rén bùnéng chī tài duō táng.Diabetics cannot eat too much sugar.
- 作为一名糖尿病人，他需要控制饮食。Zuòwéi yī míng tángliàobìng rén, tā xūyào kòngzhì yǐnshí.As a diabetic, he needs to control his diet.
Example conversation
Xinyi and Junjie are choosing a dessert at a cafe.
- 俊杰 Junjie你要点这个巧克力蛋糕吗？Nǐ yào diǎn zhège qiǎokèlì dàngāo ma?Do you want to order this chocolate cake?
- 欣怡 Xinyi我不行，我是糖尿病人。Wǒ bùxíng, wǒ shì tángniàobìngrén.I can't, I am a diabetic.
- 俊杰 Junjie对不起，我忘了。Duìbùqǐ, wǒ wàngle.Sorry, I forgot.
- 欣怡 Xinyi没关系，我点杯黑咖啡就好。Méiguānxì, wǒ diǎn bēi hēikāfēi jiù hǎo.It's okay, I'll just order a black coffee.
