Definitions

wēn (noun) epidemic; plague; pestilence
wēn (adjective) dull; stupid; lackluster

Etymology phono-semantic

sickness

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

瘟 (wēn) is a phono-semantic compound associated with epidemics and plagues. Its semantic component is the 疒 (chuáng) radical, which indicates disease. The phonetic component 昷 (wēn) provides the pronunciation and historically relates to warmth. The character has consistently been used to describe highly contagious diseases spreading through human or animal populations, with its meaning remaining focused on pathology and infectious disease throughout history.

Example Sentences Hide

这种疫很可怕。

Zhè zhǒng wēnyì hěn kěpà.

This kind of plague is very frightening.

医生在对抗疫。

Yīshēng zài duìkàng wēnyì.

Doctors are fighting against the plague.

疫传播得非常快。

Wēnyì chuánbó dé fēicháng kuài.

The plague spreads very quickly.

去年这里发生了疫。

Qùnián zhèlǐ fāshēngle wēnyì.

A plague broke out here last year.

人们把疾病比作神。

Rénmen bǎ jíbìng bǐzuò wēnshén.

People compare disease to the god of plague.

为了防止疫扩散,大家要戴口罩。

Wèile fángzhǐ wēnyì kuòsàn, dàjiā yào dài kǒuzhào.

To prevent the plague from spreading, everyone should wear masks.

如果疫得不到控制,后果将非常严重。

Rúguǒ wēnyì dé bù dào kòngzhì, hòuguǒ jiāng fēicháng yánzhòng.

If the plague is not controlled, the consequences will be very serious.

科学家正在研究这种疫的起源和传播途径。

Kēxuéjiā zhèngzài yánjiū zhè zhǒng wēnyì de qǐyuán hé chuánbó tújìng.

Scientists are studying the origin and transmission routes of this plague.