bệnh
[ʔɓəjŋ̟˧˨ʔ]
The English word "sick" is translated into Vietnamese as bệnh.
The term bệnh is used to describe being ill or to refer to sick people collectively. It is a core component in other terms, such as bệnh viện, which means hospital and literally translates to "ill institution".
Meaning: ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively (adj)
Which one should you use?
While bệnh refers to a disease or a more serious illness, the word ốm is often used for more general or temporary feelings of being unwell.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate the passive experience of an undesirable state like being sick, the word bệnh is often preceded by the marker bị, forming the phrase bị bệnh (to get sick or to be sick).
Did you know?
- In northern Vietnam, the word ốm means 'sick', but in the south, it means 'thin'. This can lead to funny misunderstandings where a southerner thinks someone is dieting when they are actually ill.
- In traditional folk medicine, the phrase gió vào describes a type of 'sickness' caused by 'wind' entering the body. It is a cultural concept of illness that does not exist in Western medicine.
- When someone is bệnh, a common cultural remedy is cạo gió, which involves rubbing coins or spoons on the skin to 'scrape' the illness out.
Examples in context
- Tôi tưởng ông ấy bệnhI thought he was sick.This sentence shows how to express a thought about someone being sick using bệnh.Tatoeba #9735733 by dotheduyet1999, translation #260139 by CK
- Bạn cũng sợ bị bệnh à?Are you also afraid of getting sick?This sentence uses bệnh to ask about the fear of becoming ill.Tatoeba #11265106 by chaule3, translation #10736502 by ddnktr
- Những đứa con của Tom bị bệnh.Tom's children are sick.This sentence uses bệnh to describe the state of Tom's children.Tatoeba #9006337 by dotheduyet1999, translation #4685156 by Hybrid
- Tôi bị ốmI'm sick
- Tôi bị khó thởI'm having difficulty breathing
- Tôi bị ốm và không thể đến làm việc hôm nay.I'm sick and cannot come to work today.
- Anh ấy bị đau bụng sau khi ăn đồ ăn đường phố.He's feeling sick in the stomach after eating street food.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hương and Tuấn are talking about a coworker who is absent.
- HươngAnh ấy bị bệnh rồi à?Is he sick?
- TuấnĐúng vậy, anh ấy thấy không khỏe.Yes, he doesn't feel well.
- HươngAnh ấy đã nghỉ cả ngày hôm nay.He has been off all day today.
- TuấnHy vọng anh ấy sớm khỏi bệnh.I hope he recovers from his illness soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bệnh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
