phát bệnh
Definition
- Verb:
- To fall ill / to become sick: The primary meaning of "phát bệnh" is for a previously latent, incubating, or controlled illness to manifest or become active in a person. It describes the onset or flare-up of a disease.
- To have an outbreak / to break out: Used to describe a disease beginning to spread or appear actively in a population or area.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Sau khi bị dính mưa, anh ấy phát bệnh cảm lạnh. (After getting caught in the rain, he fell ill with a cold.)
- Bệnh nhân đã ổn định, nhưng đột nhiên phát bệnh trở lại. (The patient was stable but suddenly had a relapse.)
- Khu vực đó vừa phát bệnh sốt xuất huyết. (That area just had a dengue fever outbreak.)
Advanced Usage
- "phát bệnh" in psychology/behavior: Can be used figuratively to describe someone suddenly exhibiting extreme or irrational behavior, as if "falling ill" with an emotion or condition.
- Anh ta đột nhiên phát bệnh, la hét và đập phá đồ đạc. (He suddenly "had an episode," screaming and smashing things.)
Variants and Related Words
- Phát bệnh is a compound verb. Its components are:
- Phát (v): to emit, to issue, to develop.
- Bệnh (n): disease, illness.
- Lên cơn (v): to have a fit or attack (e.g., of epilepsy, anger). This is similar for sudden onsets but not for general illness.
- Bùng phát (v): to erupt, to break out violently (used for diseases, epidemics, or conflicts).
Synonyms
- To fall ill: To become sick.
- To contract a disease: To catch an illness.
- To have an outbreak: For a disease to start spreading.
Related Idioms
- Phát bệnh tâm thần: To have a psychotic break / to develop a mental illness.
- Áp lực quá lớn khiến anh ấy phát bệnh tâm thần. (The immense pressure caused him to have a psychotic break.)