v.
to get sick; to fall ill
生病
to get sick; to fall ill
To fall ill or get sick. Combines 生 (to arise) and 病 (illness), signaling that your body has caught a bug.
Common Usage & Traps
- 生病了 — got sick / has fallen ill
- 生病的时候 — when sick
- 生病看医生 — if sick, see a doctor
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很生病病得很重 / 病得很厉害很 cannot go before 生病. 生病 already has 病 inside it. For 'very sick,' use 病得很重 or 病得很厉害.
Why can't you say 很生病 for 'very sick'?
You can't say 很生病; 'very sick' is 病得很重.
生病 already has 病 inside it, so 很 can't sit in front. To say someone is very sick, put 很 after 病: 病得很重. If you just mean 'sick,' say 生病了 or 病了.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Very sick | 病得很重 | 很生病 |
| I got sick | 我生病了 | 我很生病 |
| He is very sick | 他病得很重 | 他很生病 |
What's the difference between 生病 and 有病?
生病 means getting sick; 有病 means already sick or, as an insult, crazy.
生病 focuses on catching an illness, so it often comes with 了. 有病 describes having an illness or condition already, and it can sound harsh. Call someone 有病 and you're basically saying they're crazy.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Recent onset | 他生病了 | 他有病了 |
| Chronic condition | 他有病，一直吃药 | 他生病，一直吃药 |
| Insult | 你有病吧？ | 你生病吧？ |
When do you say 生病了 instead of 生病?
Use 生病了 when you got sick; plain 生病 is general or conditional.
Plain 生病 states a fact or a general rule. Adding 了 signals a new situation: you just got sick. That 了 is the same 了 you see in 下雨了.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Just got sick | 我生病了 | 我生病 |
| When sick | 生病的时候 | 生病了的时候 |
Why does 生病看医生 have no subject or 'if'?
Chinese can drop 'when/if' and the subject: 生病看医生 just means 'if sick, see a doctor'.
Chinese does not need a subject in every sentence when context makes it obvious. It also does not need an 'if' or 'when' word to chain two ideas. 生病看医生 sounds like a short rule: sick, see a doctor.
“生病看医生，看见看不见？” (When sick, see a doctor. Can you see or not?)
“生病看医生，看见看不见？” (When sick, see a doctor. Can you see or not?)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Short rule | 生病看医生 | 如果你生病，你应该看医生 |
| Subject | 生病看医生 | 你生病，你看医生 |
| Connector | 生病看医生 | 当你生病的时候，你去看医生 |
Appears in Stories 3 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Before you read: this is a short rhyming poem. You will meet a doctor who asks about seeing and hearing. Try to spot words you already know!
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生病 看医生，看见看不见？
Follow a traveler's unexpected hospital stay in China, where counting days and costs becomes practical learning. Practice numbers, dates, food prices, and simple descriptions of a doctor and room.
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二零一九年，八月十六日，回国第七日， 生病 第一天。
Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.
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马家友 生病 了，在医院的三号房间住。
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