‘重病’ literally combines ‘重’ (zhòng), meaning ‘serious,’ ‘severe,’ or ‘heavy,’ and ‘病’ (bìng), meaning ‘illness’ or ‘disease.’ Together, they form a compound noun meaning ‘serious illness’—a medical condition that significantly impairs health, requires urgent or prolonged treatment, and may threaten life. It is more formal and weighty than general terms like ‘生病’ (to be ill) and implies clinical severity, not just temporary discomfort.

This term appears frequently in hospitals, news reports, medical discussions, and conversations about someone’s health crisis. It is commonly modified by verbs like ‘患’ (to suffer from), ‘得’ (to contract), or ‘康复’ (to recover from), and often paired with phrases like ‘住院治疗’ (hospitalization and treatment) or ‘危及生命’ (life-threatening). While it can describe any serious physical or mental condition, it carries emotional gravity and is rarely used lightly or humorously.