About
痰 is a phono-semantic compound. The radical 疒, meaning 'sickness' or 'disease', encloses the top and left sides, placing the character firmly in the medical domain. Inside, the component 炎 (yán) , two fire 火 elements stacked vertically , serves as the phonetic. The character denotes phlegm (or sputum), the thick, viscous mucus secreted by the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, especially during colds, respiratory infections, or allergies. In traditional medicine, excessive phlegm is linked to internal heat or inflammation, which makes the fire imagery of 炎 a fitting conceptual match, even though its primary role is to indicate pronunciation.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
请不要随地吐痰。
医生说我痰多。
感冒后痰变多了。
他把痰吐在痰盂里。
咳嗽带痰是常见症状。
多喝水可以帮助化痰。
如果你痰中带血，要看医生。
痰的颜色和质地能反映健康状况。
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.