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March 24, 2026
症状(症狀)zhèngzhuàng(zheng4zhuang4)
症状 (zhèngzhuàng) refers to the signs or indications of an illness or medical condition. It is commonly used in both medical contexts and everyday conversation when discussing health issues. Understanding symptoms is crucial for diagnosing illnesses and communicating effectively with healthcare providers.
Frequency#2901DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, understanding symptoms (症状) is key to diagnosing and treating illnesses holistically, which contrasts with Western medicine's focus on specific pathogens or conditions. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on balance and harmony in health.
Memory Tip
Think of 症状 as a 'signature' (症) of an illness (状). The character 症 has a radical for illness (疒) that visually suggests a connection to health, while 状 could remind you of a 'situation' or state. Together, they create a vivid image of the 'state of an illness' or its symptoms.
Meanings of 症状
zhèngzhuàng(zheng4zhuang4)
1symptom (of an illness)
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About 症状
症状Simplified
症狀Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2901Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 症状
Podcast: 症状
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AI Study Notes for 症状
Quick Contrast
症状 (zhèngzhuàng) vs 征兆 (zhēngzhào): use 症状 for specific medical signs, while 征兆 refers to general signs or indicators of future events.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 症状 as a 'signature' (症) of an illness (状). The character 症 has a radical for illness (疒) that visually suggests a connection to health, while 状 could remind you of a 'situation' or state. Together, they create a vivid image of the 'state of an illness' or its symptoms.
Usage Notes
When using 症状, ensure that it is paired correctly with verbs like '出现' (chūxiàn, to appear) or '表现' (biǎoxiàn, to manifest). Be cautious with the tones, as improper pronunciation can lead to misunderstandings; the first character is pronounced with a falling tone and the second with a falling tone as well.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 vocabulary word, 症状 connects to other medical terms you may encounter, such as 疾病 (jíbìng, disease) or 治疗 (zhìliáo, treatment). Focus on using 症状 in sentences to describe specific health issues and practice identifying symptoms in context.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, understanding symptoms (症状) is key to diagnosing and treating illnesses holistically, which contrasts with Western medicine's focus on specific pathogens or conditions. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on balance and harmony in health.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is confusing 症状 with 现象 (xiànxiàng, phenomenon), which refers to observable occurrences rather than health-related symptoms. For example, saying '我有一些现象' instead of '我有一些症状' misuses the term in a medical context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 症状
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Grammar Patterns of 症状
症状 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
这是眼睑边缘红肿发炎的____。
This is an irritation and inflammation of the edge of the eyelid.
The symptoms are very mild and it takes an expert eye to see them.
Cultural Notes for 症状
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese medicine, understanding symptoms (症状) is key to diagnosing and treating illnesses holistically, which contrasts with Western medicine's focus on specific pathogens or conditions. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on balance and harmony in health.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, symptoms are often treated as isolated signs of illness, while in Chinese culture, they are viewed as part of a larger context concerning one's overall balance and wellbeing.
Frequently Asked Questions about 症状
You can say, '我有一些症状，比如头痛和发热' (I have some symptoms, like a headache and fever).
症状 refers to the symptoms, while 诊断 (zhěnduàn) means diagnosis, which is the conclusion drawn from analyzing those symptoms.
Generally, 症状 is specific to medical contexts; for non-medical situations, you might use other terms like 特征 (tèzhēng, characteristic) instead.
