医

醫

yī

匚 + 矢

Definitions

yī (adjective,noun) medical; medicine

yī (noun) doctor

yī (verb) to cure; to treat

Etymology

Originally depicted a quiver, a container for arrows. Later repurposed to mean "medicine" as a simplified form of the traditional character 醫.

Semantic: 矢 Phonetic: 匸

About

The character 医 simplifies the traditional form 醫, a compound where 殹 (phonetic, suggesting striking or treating) appears above 酉 (a wine vessel, indicating medicinal tinctures). Its original meaning encompasses physicians, medical practice, and the healing of physical ailments. The modern form 医 restructures this entirely: 矢 (arrow) sits within 匚 (a container), visually evoking the safekeeping of early surgical or medical instruments.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的母亲是医生。

Wǒ de mǔqīn shì yīshēng.

My mother is a doctor.

他去医院看望朋友。

Tā qù yīyuàn kànwàng péngyou.

He goes to the hospital to visit a friend.

医学是一门重要的科学。

Yīxué shì yī mén zhòngyào de kēxué.

Medicine is an important science.

医生详细解释了病情。

Yīshēng xiángxì jiěshì le bìngqíng.

The doctor explained the illness in detail.

这家医院的医疗设备很先进。

Zhè jiā yīyuàn de yīliáo shèbèi hěn xiānjìn.

This hospital's medical equipment is very advanced.

政府计划改革医疗保险制度。

Zhèngfǔ jìhuà gǎigé yīliáo bǎoxiǎn zhìdù.

The government plans to reform the medical insurance system.

现代医学需要人工智能的帮助。

Xiàndài yīxué xūyào réngōng zhìnéng de bāngzhù.

Modern medicine needs the help of artificial intelligence.

公共卫生事业的发展关系全民的福祉。

Gōnggòng wèishēng shìyè de fāzhǎn guānxì quánmín de fúzhǐ.

The development of public health initiatives is related to the well-being of all citizens.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 匚

Component: 矢

医