saang1 beng6生病

Jyutpingsaang1 beng6

Yalesāang behng

Rare

Definition

To fall ill, become sick, or develop an illness.

ngo5我sai3細lou2佬saang1生beng6病zo2咗。

ngo5我sai3细lou2佬saang1生beng6病zo2咗。

My younger brother got sick.

colloquialhealth

How it's used

While 生病 is understood, Cantonese speakers overwhelmingly prefer the single character 病 when talking about being sick. Using the two-character form often sounds slightly more formal or emphatic, similar to saying 'to contract an illness' rather than just 'being sick'.

Examples

keoi5佢zeoi3最gan6近seng4成jat6日sang1生beng6病，hou2好ci5似hou2好heoi1虛joek6弱gam3咁。

He has been falling ill quite often lately, he seems very weak.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪sang1生beng6病aa4呀？dim2點gaai2解min6面sik1色gam3咁caa1差？

Are you sick? Why do you look so pale?

Common phrases

sang1生beng6病jap6入jyun2院

to be hospitalized due to illness

seng4成jat6日sang1生beng6病

to fall ill frequently

Common mistake

Learners often use 生病 in casual conversation where a native speaker would simply use 病. For example, saying 我病咗 is much more natural than saying 我生病咗.