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March 24, 2026
生病shēngbìng(sheng1bing4)
生病 (shēngbìng) means 'to fall ill' or 'to become sick.' It is commonly used in both spoken and written contexts when describing a state of health that has deteriorated. This term is often used in everyday conversations, medical situations, and when expressing concern for someone's well-being.
Strokes15Frequency#2542DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, showing concern for someone's health is a sign of care and respect. It is common to ask about someone's health when greeting them, reflecting the value placed on well-being.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (生, shēng) who suddenly feels unwell and their body (病, bìng) starts to act strangely. The character 生 represents life and vitality, while 病 represents illness, helping you visualize the transition from health to sickness.
Meanings of 生病
shēngbìng(sheng1bing4)
1to fall ill
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About 生病
生病Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2542Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 生病
Podcast: 生病
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AI Study Notes for 生病
Quick Contrast
病 (bìng, illness) - use 生病 when emphasizing the action of becoming ill rather than just the state of being ill.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context in which you use 生病; it is typically informal and used in everyday conversations. Common collocations include '生病了' (shēngbìng le) meaning 'have fallen ill.' Avoid confusing it with '生' (shēng) alone, which means 'to give birth' or 'to be born.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 生病 connects well with other health-related vocabulary such as 医生 (yīshēng - doctor) and 药 (yào - medicine). Focus on practicing it in sentences to discuss health and well-being.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 生病 with 感冒 (gǎnmào), which specifically refers to having a cold. For example, saying '我生病是感冒' (Wǒ shēngbìng shì gǎnmào) is incorrect; instead, say '我感冒了' (Wǒ gǎnmào le) to specify having a cold.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 生病
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Learning Lab
Knowing 生病 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
生病 (shēngbìng) means 'to fall ill' or 'to become sick.' It is commonly used in both spoken and written contexts when describing a state of health that has deteriorated. This term is often used in everyday conversations, medical situations, and when expressing concern for someone's well-being.
When to use 生病
Be mindful of the context in which you use 生病; it is typically informal and used in everyday conversations. Common collocations include '生病了' (shēngbìng le) meaning 'have fallen ill.' Avoid confusing it with '生' (shēng) alone, which means 'to give birth' or 'to be born.'
生病 or something close to it
病 (bìng, illness) - use 生病 when emphasizing the action of becoming ill rather than just the state of being ill.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 生病 with 感冒 (gǎnmào), which specifically refers to having a cold. For example, saying '我生病是感冒' (Wǒ shēngbìng shì gǎnmào) is incorrect; instead, say '我感冒了' (Wǒ gǎnmào le) to specify having a cold.
Write 生病
生
病
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Grammar Patterns of 生病
生病 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
