早日康复
zǎorì kāngfù
To say "get well" in Chinese, the standard way is 早日康复 (zǎorì kāngfù).
The phrase is used to express the wish that someone recovers from an illness or injury. While 早日康复 can stand alone as a complete polite wish, it is often more natural in Chinese to include the verb 祝 (zhù), meaning "to wish", when expressing this sentiment to someone, as seen in the phrase 祝你早日康复.
Meaning: to recover from illness or injury (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 早日康复 is composed of 早日 (zǎorì), meaning "sooner/early day" and 康复 (kāngfù), meaning "to recover/recuperate".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
早日康复 is a formal and polite way to express well wishes, making it suitable for use with elders, superiors or in written cards. Other formal options include 祝您早日康复 (wishing you an early recovery), 恭祝您早日康复 (wishing you a speedy recovery) or 祝您身体健康 (wishing you good health). For informal situations, you can use 快点好起来 (get well soon) or 好好养病 (take good care and rest well).
How does it change in a sentence?
早日康复 functions as a verb phrase or a complete polite wish and does not require a subject when used as a standalone greeting or sign-off.
How do you pronounce it?
zǎorì kāngfù
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, giving a 'get well' gift of fruit is common, but you must avoid giving pears. The word for pear 梨 (lí) sounds like the word for 'separation' 离 (lí), which could imply the patient is leaving the world.
- The word 康 (kāng) in 康复 is the same character used in the word 'peace' or 'tranquility' in many classical contexts. It implies that true recovery is not just physical, but a return to a state of peaceful stability.
- The term 养 (yǎng) in the informal 好好养病 (hǎohǎo yǎng bìng) literally means 'to nourish' or 'to raise', similar to how one would 'raise' a child or 'nourish' a plant.
Examples in context
- 祝你早日康复。I hope that you will get well soon.This sentence shows how to use 早日康复 in a full sentence with the verb "to wish".Tatoeba #2777027 by GlossaMatik, translation #17787 by CK
- 早日康复。Get well soon.This sentence shows how to use 早日康复 as a standalone greeting.Tatoeba #9432358 by BobbyLee, translation #5416405 by CK
- 希望你早日康复。Xīwàng nǐ zǎorì kāngfù.I hope you get well soon.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rainy way, Yuting visits Haoran who is sick at home.
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，你要好好休息。Hàorán, nǐ yào hǎohǎo xiūxi.Haoran, you need to rest well.
- 浩然 Haoran谢谢雨婷，我会的。Xièxiè Yǔtíng, wǒ huì de.Thanks Yuting, I will.
- 雨婷 Yuting祝你早日康复。Zhù nǐ zǎorì kāngfù.I wish you a speedy recovery.
- 浩然 Haoran非常感谢你的关心。Fēicháng gǎnxiè nǐ de guānxīn.Thank you very much for your concern.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
