The story of 疾

swift, sickness

病 is composed of 疒 and 矢(arrow), 疒 depicts a sick man lying on a bed, while 矢 is the picture of an arrow, 矢 has already had the meaning of swift, so does 疾. On the other hand, acute disease always causes pain, so 疾 has the meaning of pain and suffering.

Vocabulary of 疾

  • 隱疾 (an unmentionable illness)
  • 疾書 (scribble rapidly)
  • 疾苦 (suffering)

Classification

Related Characters: