脊髓灰质炎
jǐsuǐ huīzhìyán
The English word "polio" is translated into Mandarin as 脊髓灰质炎 (jǐsuǐ huīzhìyán).
The term refers to the infectious viral disease that can cause muscle weakness and paralysis.
Which one should you use?
While 脊髓灰质炎 is the standard term, 小儿麻痹症 is also used to refer to the disease.
How do you pronounce it?
jǐsuǐ huīzhìyán
Did you know?
- The word 麻痹 in 小儿麻痹症 is also used in modern Mandarin as a metaphor for someone who is unresponsive or 'paralyzed' by bureaucracy.
- The character 炎 used in 脊髓灰质炎 to denote 'inflammation' is visually composed of two 'fire' characters, 火, stacked on top of each other.
- The term 脊髓 (spinal cord) shares the character 髓 with the word for 'marrow', which in Chinese culture is often associated with the deepest essence or core of something.
Examples in context
- 这种疾病被称为脊髓灰质炎。Zhè zhǒng jíbìng bèi chēng wèi jǐsuǐ huīzhìyán.This disease is called polio.
- 脊髓灰质炎可以通过疫苗预防。Jǐsuǐ huīzhìyán kěyǐ tōngguò yìmiáo yùfáng.Polio can be prevented through vaccination.
- 他小时候患过脊髓灰质炎。Tā xiǎoshíhòu huànguò jǐsuǐ huīzhìyán.He had polio when he was a child.
Example conversation
Yuting and Junjie are discussing childhood vaccinations.
- 雨婷 Yuting你接种过脊髓灰质炎疫苗吗？nǐ jiē zhòng guò jǐ suǐ huī zhì yán yì miáo ma？Have you been vaccinated against polio?
- 俊杰 Junjie接种过了，我记得小时候打过。jiē zhòng guò le, wǒ jì de xiǎo shí hou dǎ guò。Yes, I remember getting it when I was little.
- 雨婷 Yuting这种疫苗对预防疾病很重要。zhè zhǒng yì miáo duì yù fáng jí bìng hěn zhòng yào。This vaccine is very important for preventing the disease.
- 俊杰 Junjie没错，现在很多国家都消灭了它。mé cuò, xiàn zài hěn duō guó jiā dōu xiāo miè le tā。That's true, many countries have eradicated it now.
