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症 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
症zhèngdiseaseHSK 3, zg, 10 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1936, Hard
症zhèngillnessHSK 3, zg, 10 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1936, Hard
症zhèngabdominal tumorHSK 3, zg, 10 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1936, Hard
症zhèngbowel obstructionHSK 3, zg, 10 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1936, Hard
症zhèng(fig.) sticking pointHSK 3, zg, 10 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1936, Hard
症zhèngailment, disease, illnessHSK 3, zg, 10 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1936, Hard
症zhēngdiseaseHSK 3, zg, 10 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1936, Hard
症zhēngillnessHSK 3, zg, 10 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1936, Hard
症zhēngabdominal tumorHSK 3, zg, 10 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1936, Hard
症zhēngbowel obstructionHSK 3, zg, 10 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1936, Hard
症zhēng(fig.) sticking pointHSK 3, zg, 10 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1936, Hard
症zhēngailment, disease, illnessHSK 3, zg, 10 strokes, radical 疒, rank #1936, Hard
zhēng(zheng1)
primary
 T1
  1. 1disease
  2. 2illness
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
症zhēng(zheng1)

The character 症 (zhēng) primarily refers to a disease or illness, often used in medical contexts. It can also denote a specific condition or ailment, such as a tumor or bowel obstruction, and metaphorically represent a sticking point in discussions or situations.

Strokes10Radical疒Frequency#1936DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, understanding the symptoms (症状) of an illness is crucial for diagnosis and treatment, reflecting the holistic approach to health prevalent in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a big 'Z' for 'zhēng' shaped like a medical symbol. Visualize a doctor diagnosing a patient with a serious 'disease' (think of the radical 病 - bìng, which relates to sickness). Connecting the image of a health issue with the sound 'zhēng' helps solidify the meaning.

Meanings of 症

zhēng(zheng1)
primary
1disease
2illness
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 症

症Simplified
10Strokes
疒Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#1936Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3

Podcast: 症

JasonAmy

Podcast: 症

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 症

Quick Contrast

病 (bìng) refers to illness in a broader sense, while 症 (zhēng) specifically denotes a condition or symptom related to a disease.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a big 'Z' for 'zhēng' shaped like a medical symbol. Visualize a doctor diagnosing a patient with a serious 'disease' (think of the radical 病 - bìng, which relates to sickness). Connecting the image of a health issue with the sound 'zhēng' helps solidify the meaning.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 症 with 病 (bìng), which is a more general term for illness. 症 is more specific, often used in clinical settings. Pay attention to proper tone pronunciation, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Though 症 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is related to other medical terms you may encounter. Focus on recognizing symptoms (症状 - zhèngzhuàng) and discussions that involve health to expand your understanding.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, understanding the symptoms (症状) of an illness is crucial for diagnosis and treatment, reflecting the holistic approach to health prevalent in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 病 instead of 症 when discussing specific symptoms, e.g., saying '我有病' (wǒ yǒu bìng - I have an illness) when they mean '我有症状' (wǒ yǒu zhèngzhuàng - I have symptoms). Always use 症 when referring to specific conditions or symptoms.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 症

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Etymology of 症

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 疒 represents the meaning and 正 represents the sound. Simplified form of 癥.

Memory Hint

sickness

Semantic (meaning)疒
+
Phonetic (sound)正
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 症?

Decomposition of 症

IDS Structure⿸疒正
症Full Character
=
疒ne4
enclosing
正zheng1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 症?

Write 症

症

Practice writing 症 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 症

症 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

这是眼睑边缘红肿发炎的____状。

This is an irritation and inflammation of the edge of the eyelid.

Common Confusions with 症

症vs政
zhèng

Similar pronunciation but different meanings and radicals.

症vs证
zhèng

Similar pronunciation and similar shape but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "disease"?

or

Example Sentences for 症 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这是眼睑边缘红肿发炎的症状。

zhè shì yǎn jiǎn biān yuán hóng zhǒng fā yán de zhèng zhuàng。

This is an irritation and inflammation of the edge of the eyelid.
2
抑郁症使他不止一次地企图自杀。

yì yù zhèng shǐ tā bù zhǐ yī cì dì qǐ tú zì shā。

More than once, depression drove him to attempt suicide.
3
他被诊断患有严重的阅读困难症，但是却绝顶聪明。

tā bèi zhěn duàn huàn yǒu yán zhòng de yuè dú kùn nán zhèng， ， dàn shì què jué dǐng cōng。

He was diagnosed as severely dyslexic but extraordinarily bright.
4
几年后，卡佳因患癌症在伦敦病逝。

jī nián hòu， ， kǎ jiā yīn huàn ái zhèng zài lún dūn bìng。

A few years later, Katya succumbed to cancer in London.
5
我因抑郁症休了7个月的病假。

wǒ yīn yì yù zhèng xiū le7 7 gè yuè de bìng。

I have been on sick leave for seven months with depression.
6
3个医生都是持有执业证书的瘾症专家。

3 3 gè yī shēng dū shì chí yǒu zhí yè zhèng shū de yǐn zhèng zhuān。

All three doctors are certified as addictions specialists.
7
我不是个强迫症患者，完全不是。

wǒ bù shì gè qiáng pò zhèng huàn zhě， ， wán quán bù。

I am not an obsessive. Not at all.
8
患有社交恐惧症的人一想到要见陌生人就发抖。

huàn yǒu shè jiāo kǒng jù zhèng de rén yī xiǎng dào yào jiàn mò shēng rén jiù fā dǒu。

Social phobics quake at the thought of meeting strangers.
9
我一直病着，出现了一系列让人不解的症状。

wǒ yī zhí bìng zháo， ， chū xiàn le yī xì liè ràng rén bù jiě de zhèng。

I was constantly ill, with a baffling array of symptoms.
10
他走路时一瘸一拐的，那是小儿麻痹的后遗症。

tā zǒu lù shí yī qué yī guǎi de， ， nà shì xiǎo ér má bì de hòu yí。

He dragged a foot when he walked, a leftover from polio.

Cultural Notes for 症

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, understanding the symptoms (症状) of an illness is crucial for diagnosis and treatment, reflecting the holistic approach to health prevalent in Chinese culture.

Word Family of 症

Words Containing This Character20
症zhēngdisease
症状zhèngzhuàngsymptom (of an illness)症狀
癌症áizhèngcancer
并发症complications (undesired side-effect of medical procedure)併發症
综合症syndrome綜合症
炎症yánzhènginflammation
病症bìngzhèngdisease
抑郁症yìyùzhèngclinical depression抑鬱症
恐惧症phobia恐懼症
后遗症hòuyízhèng(medicine) sequelae後遺症
强迫症obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)強迫症
重症grave
绝症incurable disease絕症
症结zhēngjiécrux of an issue癥結
对症correct diagnosis對症
急症acute disease
败血症septicaemia敗血症
厌食症anorexia厭食症
对症下药to take appropriate steps對症下藥
老年痴呆症senile dementia老年痴獃症
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 症 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 症

Yes, in Chinese medicine, 症 (zhèng) can refer to various types of conditions, such as '热症' (rèzhèng) for heat syndromes or '寒症' (hánzhèng) for cold syndromes. Understanding these distinctions is important for diagnosing and treating patients in traditional Chinese medicine.