过敏 (guòmǐn) literally combines 过 (guò, 'excess' or 'beyond') and 敏 (mǐn, 'sensitive' or 'responsive'), conveying the idea of an exaggerated or abnormal sensitivity—specifically to substances like pollen, food, or medication. As a noun, it refers to an allergic reaction; as an adjective, it describes someone or something that is allergic (e.g., 过敏体质, 'allergy-prone constitution').

This term is widely used in medical, everyday, and public health contexts in Chinese. It commonly appears in discussions about symptoms (itching, rashes, sneezing), triggers (peanuts, dust mites), and prevention (avoiding allergens). Unlike English 'allergic', which requires 'to', 过敏 can stand alone or pair directly with the trigger using the particle 对 (e.g., 对花生过敏). It’s not used for emotional sensitivity—terms like 敏感 are preferred there.