Definition

1. Noun:
   • Disease, illness, sickness: A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms.
   • Malfunction, trouble, defect: A fault or problem in a machine or system.

Usage Examples

• Noun (illness):

  • Anh ấy đang nghỉ làm vì bệnh. (He is off work because of illness.)
  • Phòng bệnh hơn chữa bệnh. (Prevention is better than cure.)
  • Bác sĩ đã chẩn đoán bệnh. (The doctor diagnosed the disease.)

• Noun (machine trouble):

  • Thợ sửa chữa tìm ra bệnh của chiếc xe. (The mechanic found the trouble with the car.)

Advanced Usage

• "bệnh tật": A general term for diseases and ailments, often emphasizing a state of poor health.

  • Ông ấy đã chiến đấu với bệnh tật nhiều năm. (He has battled illness for many years.)

• "bệnh lí" / "bệnh lý": Pathology; the scientific study of disease, or the manifestations of a disease.

  • Bệnh lí của ca này rất phức tạp. (The pathology of this case is very complex.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bệnh nhân (n): Patient; a person receiving medical treatment.

  • Bệnh nhân đang hồi phục tốt. (The patient is recovering well.)

• Bệnh viện (n): Hospital; an institution providing medical and surgical treatment.

  • Cô ấy được đưa đến bệnh viện cấp cứu. (She was taken to the emergency hospital.)

• Bệnh án (n): Medical record, patient file.

  • Bác sĩ đang xem xét bệnh án. (The doctor is reviewing the medical record.)

Different Meanings

1. Literal Meaning: A physical or mental illness in a living being.
2. Figurative/Technical Meaning: A defect, fault, or recurring problem in a mechanical or abstract system (e.g., a societal ill, a software bug).

Synonyms

• Illness: The state of being ill.
• Sickness: A condition of being unwell.
• Disorder: A disruption of normal functioning.
• Ailment: A minor illness.
• Malady (formal): A disease or ailment.
• Defect (for machines): A fault or imperfection.

Related Idioms and Proverbs

• Bệnh nào thuốc nấy: Literally "each disease has its own cure"; meaning the solution must be appropriate to the specific problem. Equivalent to "desperate diseases require desperate remedies."
• Đồng bệnh tương lân: Literally "those with the same illness sympathize with each other"; meaning people in the same unfortunate situation understand and pity each other. Similar to "misery loves company."
• Bệnh từ miệng vào, họa từ miệng ra: Literally "illness enters by the mouth, disaster exits by the mouth"; a proverb warning that poor diet can cause sickness and careless speech can cause trouble.

noun

1. Disease, illness, sickness
   • lâm bệnh
     to be taken ill, to fall ill
   • bệnh nào thuốc nấy
     each disease has its own cure; desperate diseases must have desperate diseases
   • bệnh sởi
     measles
   • phòng bệnh hơn chữa bệnh
     prevention is better than cure
   • bệnh nghề nghiệp
     an occupational disease
   • bệnh xã hội
     a social disease, a social evil
2. Trouble (in a machine)
   • tìm ra bệnh của chiếc máy khâu