What is the meaning and reading of the kanji "病"?

The kanji "病" belongs to JLPT N4 and means "Sickness, Illness". Its Onyomi is "ビョウ (byou)" and Kunyomi is "やま・い (yama-i)".

JLPT N4

病

Sickness, Illness

Q: Is there a memory mnemonic for "病"?

Yes! Radical breakdown: "疒 (sickness radical: bed, illness) + 丙 (third, bright, fire; here, like a person lying down with a fever)". Mnemonic Story: "You're under the 'sickness' tent (疒), feeling utterly miserable and weak. Inside, you're so sick you're like a 'third' (丙) rate person, lying down, utterly 'burnt out' with a fever. This is the image of true **sickness**."

Onyomi

ビョウ (byou)

Kunyomi

やま・い (yama-i)

🧠 Memory Mnemonic

🔍 Radical Breakdown

疒 (sickness radical: bed, illness) + 丙 (third, bright, fire; here, like a person lying down with a fever)

📖 Mnemonic Story

You're under the 'sickness' tent (疒), feeling utterly miserable and weak. Inside, you're so sick you're like a 'third' (丙) rate person, lying down, utterly 'burnt out' with a fever. This is the image of true **sickness**.

💡 Quick Hint: Sickness tent, burnt out

Essential N4 Vocabulary

病院

びょういん

Hospital

病気

びょうき

Sickness, Illness

病人

びょうにん

Sick person

Kanji Practice Quiz

Verify your memory for "病"

＿＿＿＿＿に行く。

🎉 正解 / Correct!

解説: 病院は「びょういん」と読みます。
English: Hospital is read as 'byouin'.

🦅

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