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What is the Kanji for 'Illness'? | 病

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Illness', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Illness' is 病.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Illness

    Reading

    kunyomi

    ya

    やまい

    yamai

    onyomiびょう

    byou

    Parts

    Third, Third class Sick

    Example Word

    病死: illness or death. The Japanese verbal noun '病死 (びょうし)' refers to death caused by illness or disease. It is a compound of '病 (びょう)' meaning 'illness' and '死 (し)' meaning 'death'. This term is often used in medical or formal contexts to describe a person's passing due to sickness. For example: He died of illness「彼は病死した」(かれはびょうしした). Many people died from the epidemic「多くの人が伝染病で病死した」(おおくのひとがでんせんびょうでびょうしした). Note that '病死' specifically emphasizes the cause of death being an illness, distinguishing it from other causes like accidents or old age.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    10

    JLPT

    N4

    Grade

    3

    Frequency

    249

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Third, Third class

    radical

    Meaning

    Sick

Words Using

This kanji is used in 9 words:

    word

    病気

    Meaning

    Illness

    word

    病院

    Meaning

    Hospital

    word

    Meaning

    Disease

    word

    急病

    Meaning

    Sudden illness

    word

    看病

    Meaning

    Nursing

    word

    臆病

    Meaning

    Cowardly

    word

    病室

    Meaning

    Hospital room

    word

    病人

    Meaning

    Sick person

    word

    病死

    Meaning

    Illness, Death

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 14 kanji contain the part 疒 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tire, Exhausted

    kanji

    Meaning

    Pain

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cure, Heal

    kanji

    Meaning

    Symptom

    kanji

    Meaning

    Habit

    kanji

    Meaning

    Heal, Healing

    kanji

    Meaning

    Epidemic

    kanji

    Meaning

    Stupid

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rapidly, Disease

    kanji

    Meaning

    Diarrhea, Diarrhoea

    kanji

    Meaning

    Smallpox, Pox

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thin

    kanji

    Meaning

    Swelling, Carbuncle

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mark, Foot print

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 病 mean?

病 means 'Illness'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Third Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N4 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.