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March 24, 2026
病毒bìngdú(bing4du2)
病毒 (bìngdú) refers to a virus, which is a microscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. Commonly used in medical and scientific contexts, it denotes not only pathogenic viruses causing diseases but also computer viruses in tech discussions. The term emphasizes the harmful nature of these agents.
Frequency#2224DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In recent years, 病毒 has gained prominence in discussions surrounding public health in China, especially during outbreaks. It highlights the importance of understanding viral transmission and prevention measures in a society that values collective health.
Memory Tip
Think of 病 (bìng) as 'illness' and 毒 (dú) as 'poison'—together they conjure an image of a 'poison causing illness.' Imagine a tiny creature (the virus) sneaking into your body and unleashing chaos, reinforcing both the meaning and the pronunciation.
Meanings of 病毒
bìngdú(bing4du2)
1virus
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About 病毒
病毒Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2224Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 病毒
Podcast: 病毒
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AI Study Notes for 病毒
Quick Contrast
细菌 (xìjūn) — use 病毒 for viruses specifically, while 细菌 refers to bacteria, which are different types of microorganisms.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 病 (bìng) as 'illness' and 毒 (dú) as 'poison'—together they conjure an image of a 'poison causing illness.' Imagine a tiny creature (the virus) sneaking into your body and unleashing chaos, reinforcing both the meaning and the pronunciation.
Usage Notes
When discussing viruses, ensure you use 病毒 in a formal context, especially in health-related discussions. A common mistake is to confuse it with the word for 'bacteria' (细菌, xìjūn), which is different. Pay attention to the tones: 病 (bìng) is the fourth tone, while 毒 (dú) is the second tone.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 病毒 connects well with other health-related vocabulary, such as 疾病 (jíbìng, disease) and 感染 (gǎnrǎn, infection). Students should focus on using it in context, especially in discussions about health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cultural Note
In recent years, 病毒 has gained prominence in discussions surrounding public health in China, especially during outbreaks. It highlights the importance of understanding viral transmission and prevention measures in a society that values collective health.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 病毒 with the more general term for sickness (疾病, jíbìng) or use it incorrectly in casual conversations about everyday illnesses. For example, saying '我有病毒' (wǒ yǒu bìngdú) instead of '我生病了' (wǒ shēngbìng le) can sound overly formal.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 病毒
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Grammar Patterns of 病毒
病毒 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.
I translated this as a mad desire to lock up every single person with HIV.
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I was determined not to succumb to the virus.
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Cultural Notes for 病毒
🏮Cultural insight
In recent years, 病毒 has gained prominence in discussions surrounding public health in China, especially during outbreaks. It highlights the importance of understanding viral transmission and prevention measures in a society that values collective health.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While both cultures recognize the dangers of viruses, Western discussions often focus on individual responsibility for health, whereas Chinese discourse may emphasize community health measures and collective action.
Frequently Asked Questions about 病毒
You can say '这种病毒很危险' (zhè zhǒng bìngdú hěn wēixiǎn), meaning 'This virus is very dangerous.'
No, it can also refer to computer viruses in technology discussions.
病毒 refers specifically to viruses, whereas 细菌 refers to bacteria, which are different types of microorganisms.
