生病
shēngbìng
The English word "sick" is translated into Chinese as 生病 (shēngbìng).
生病 is used to mean being ill or to describe the state of being sick. In Chinese, 生病 functions as a verb rather than an adjective. This means you cannot use it with degree adverbs like "very" to describe how sick someone is, as you would in English.
Meaning: ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 生病 is composed of 生 (shēng), meaning "to give birth to" or "to grow" and 病 (bìng), meaning "illness". Together, they literally mean "to grow or produce illness".
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate that someone has recently become ill or has "got sick", add the particle 了 (le) after the verb, forming 生病了.
How do you pronounce it?
shēngbìng
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying 很生病 (hěn shēngbìng) to mean "very sick". Because 生病 is a verb, this construction is incorrect. To indicate the severity of an illness, use phrases such as 生了重病 (shēngle zhòngbìng).
Did you know?
- If you tell someone 你有病 (nǐ yǒu bìng), you are not expressing concern for their health, but are actually calling them 'crazy' or 'mentally ill' as an insult.
- In traditional Chinese medicine, 'being sick' is rarely described as a single event, but is instead discussed through the lens of 'imbalance', such as having too much 'heat' or 'cold' in the body.
- If someone is 'sick of' a situation, such as being tired of a repetitive task, Chinese speakers would not use 生病, but would instead use 厌烦 (yànfán).
Examples in context
- 生病很無聊。Being sick is very boring.This sentence is useful for discussing the state of being sick.Tatoeba #6623167 by verdastelo9604, translation #869275 by CM
- 汤姆生病了。Tom is sick.This sentence shows how to state that someone is sick.Tatoeba #10109529 by ColawithIce, translation #1024872 by CK
- 汤姆生病了吗？Did Thomas get sick?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has become sick.Tatoeba #4977422 by musclegirlxyp, translation #4997164 by s0m30n3
- 我生病了。I am sick.
- 他患病已经多年了。He has been sick for many years.
- 我不舒服。I feel sick.
- 我不舒服了。I am feeling sick.
- 我需要看医生。I need to see a doctor.
- 54 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Xiaowen is asking Haoran why he missed the party.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你昨天怎么没来？Nǐ zuótiān zěnme méi lái?Why didn't you come yesterday?
- 浩然 Haoran我不小心生病了。Wǒ bù xiǎoxīn shēngbìng le.I accidentally got sick.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你现在感觉好点了吗？Nǐ xiànzài gǎnjué hǎo diǎn le ma?Do you feel a bit better now?
- 浩然 Haoran好多了，谢谢晓雯。Hǎo duō le, xièxiè Xiǎowén.Much better, thank you Xiaowen.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
