Readings: ビョウ (Onyomi), やまい, やむ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: sickness, illness, disease
The radical 疒 represents a sickbed or a reclining person, symbolizing illness. The right component (丙) is a phonetic element that also carries a nuance of something closed or confined, reinforcing the idea of being confined due to sickness.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 病 is drawn with 10 strokes. Begin with the radical 疒 (やまいだれ) on the left, starting with the dot, followed by the horizontal stroke, and then the diagonal hook. Then, write the right component 丙, starting with the horizontal stroke, vertical stroke, and then the two small strokes at the bottom.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 疒 (やまいだれ) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ビョウ (Byō)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- やまい (yamai)
- やむ (yamu)
Common Words Using 病
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 病気 | びょうき | sickness, illness |
| 病院 | びょういん | hospital |
| 病人 | びょうにん | sick person, patient |
| 病室 | びょうしつ | sickroom, hospital room |
| 病原菌 | びょうげんきん | germ, pathogen |
| 病名 | びょうめい | diagnosis, name of a disease |
| 病弱 | びょうじゃく | sickly, delicate health |
| 急性病 | きゅうせいびょう | acute disease |
| 慢性病 | まんせいびょう | chronic disease |
| 病状 | びょうじょう | condition of illness, symptoms |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 病む | やむ | to get sick, to suffer from |
| 病 | やまい | illness, disease (often used in compounds or literary contexts) |
| 心が病む | こころがやむ | to be mentally troubled/sick |
| 目を病む | めをやむ | to have an eye disease |
| 病める | やめる | to be sick (classical/literary form) |
| 病みつき | やみつき | addiction, obsession (colloquial) |
| 病み上がり | やみあがり | convalescence, recovering from illness |
| 病み付きになる | やみつきになる | to become addicted to |
| 病みがち | やみがち | prone to illness |
| 病むこと | やむこと | the act of getting sick |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は病気で学校を休みました。
Kana: かれはびょうきでがっこうをやすみました。
Romaji: Kare wa byōki de gakkō o yasumimashita.
English: He was absent from school due to illness.
Japanese: 病院へ行かなければなりません。
Kana: びょういんへいかなければなりません。
Romaji: Byōin e ikanakereba narimasen.
English: I have to go to the hospital.
Japanese: 彼は病気と戦っています。
Kana: かれはびょうきとたたかっています。
Romaji: Kare wa byōki to tatakatte imasu.
English: He is fighting his illness.
Japanese: この病気はうつりやすいです。
Kana: このびょうきはうつりやすいです。
Romaji: Kono byōki wa utsuriyasui desu.
English: This disease is easily contagious.
Japanese: 彼女は病気で入院しています。
Kana: かのじょはびょうきでにゅういんしています。
Romaji: Kanojo wa byōki de nyūin shite imasu.
English: She is hospitalized due to illness.
Japanese: 病気の予防が大切です。
Kana: びょうきのよぼうがたいせつです。
Romaji: Byōki no yobō ga taisetsu desu.
English: Prevention of illness is important.
Japanese: 彼の病状は安定しています。
Kana: かれのびょうじょうはあんていしています。
Romaji: Kare no byōjō wa antei shite imasu.
English: His condition is stable.
Japanese: 彼はストレスで心が病んでいます。
Kana: かれはストレスでこころがやんでいます。
Romaji: Kare wa sutoresu de kokoro ga yande imasu.
English: He is mentally suffering from stress.
Japanese: 病は気からという言葉があります。
Kana: やまいはきからということばがあります。
Romaji: Yamai wa ki kara to iu kotoba ga arimasu.
English: There is a saying that sickness comes from the mind (mind over matter).
Japanese: 彼は毎日病人の世話をしています。
Kana: かれはまいにちびょうにんのせわをしています。
Romaji: Kare wa mainichi byōnin no sewa o shite imasu.
English: He takes care of sick people every day.
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