2 · 40 words

The body and feeling ill

Parts of the body, common illnesses, and what is said at the doctor.

To say where it hurts, Chinese puts the body part first and 疼(téng) after it, with no "my" needed: 我(wǒ)头(tóu)疼(téng), I have a headache. Medicine is "eaten", 吃(chī)药(yào), and being ill is something that "grows": 生病(shēngbìng). Several words for the body end in a neutral syllable, 耳朵(ěrduo) and 眼睛(yǎnjing) among them.

The words

Verb (7)

生病(shēngbìng)to fall ill; to be illVerb2

她(tā)生病(shēngbìng)了(le)，今天(jīntiān)没(méi)来(lái)上课(shàngkè)。She is ill and did not come to class today.

Separable: 生(shēng)了(le)一(yì)场(cháng)病(bìng), to have had an illness.

发烧(fāshāo)to have a temperature; feverVerb2

孩子(háizi)发烧(fāshāo)了(le)，三十九(sānshíjiǔ)度(dù)。The child has a temperature of thirty-nine degrees.

吃药(chīyào)to take medicineVerb2

吃药(chīyào)以后(yǐhòu)别(bié)喝(hē)酒(jiǔ)。Do not drink alcohol after taking the medicine.

Medicine is "eaten", 吃(chī), where English "takes" it.

休息(xiūxi)to rest; to have a breakVerb2

你(nǐ)累(lèi)了(le)，休息(xiūxi)一下(yíxià)吧(ba)。You are tired. Have a rest.

看病(kànbìng)to see a doctor; to treat a patientVerb2

我(wǒ)下午(xiàwǔ)去(qù)医院(yīyuàn)看病(kànbìng)。I am going to the hospital this afternoon to see a doctor.

Said of the patient and of the doctor alike.

量(liáng)to measure (temperature, height)Verb2

医生(yīshēng)给(gěi)我(wǒ)量(liáng)了(le)体温(tǐwēn)。The doctor took my temperature.

Read liáng as a verb; liàng, quantity, is the same character.

拉肚子(lādùzi)to have diarrhoeaVerb2

他(tā)吃(chī)了(le)不(bù)干净(gānjìng)的(de)东西(dōngxi)，拉肚子(lādùzi)了(le)。He ate something that was not clean and got diarrhoea.

This list belongs to The body and health — seven lists and 281 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.