gau2 beng6 sing4 ji1久病成醫久病成医
Definition
To become familiar with medicine and medical treatment due to one's own prolonged illness.
How it's used
This idiom describes someone who gains extensive knowledge about a specific medical condition or treatment simply through the experience of suffering from it for a long period. It is often used to describe patients who have become so familiar with their symptoms and treatments that they can manage their own care without constant medical intervention. While it implies a high level of practical knowledge, it does not suggest formal medical training or professional qualifications.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply a hypochondriac or someone who reads medical advice online. It specifically requires the context of having personally endured a long-term illness.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
