zoi1 wan1災瘟灾瘟

Jyutpingzoi1 wan1

Yalejōi wān

Definition

A plague, pestilence, or epidemic.

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How it's used

Refers specifically to a widespread, devastating epidemic or pestilence, often carrying a sense of historical or catastrophic weight. It is rarely used in modern medical contexts, where terms like 瘟疫 or 傳染病 are preferred for clinical discussions. The word evokes a sense of divine retribution or an uncontrollable, sweeping disaster.

Examples

gau6舊si4時di1啲jan4人hou2好geng1驚zoi1災wan1瘟baau3爆faat3發。

People in the old days were very afraid of a plague outbreak.

le1呢coeng4場zoi1災wan1瘟gaau2搞dou3到zau1周wai4圍dou1都mou5冇jan4人。

This plague caused the whole area to be empty.

Common phrases

zoi1災wan1瘟baau3爆faat3發

plague outbreak

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with standard medical terminology, as it sounds quite dramatic and archaic. Using it to describe a common flu or minor outbreak will sound overly literary or alarmist.