zing1症
Jyutpingzing1
Yalejīng
Definition
Disease; illness; medical condition.
neutralhealth
How it's used
This character is primarily a bound morpheme used in medical compounds rather than a standalone noun for illness in everyday speech. When referring to a general sickness or condition, Cantonese speakers typically prefer using 病 instead. It is most frequently encountered in clinical settings or specific medical terminology.
Examples
He has recently come down with a very serious illness.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this as a direct synonym for 病 in casual conversation, but it sounds unnatural or overly clinical when used alone. Always use 病 when describing a common cold or general feeling of being unwell.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
