disease

/dɪˈziːz/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈziːz/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈzēz/ (ame, mw)

disease — 名詞

1. an abnormal state in a living body where normal functions are disrupted, typical

1.名詞A2
釋義

疾病

因感染或功能異常導致的身體健康問題

an abnormal state in a living body where normal functions are disrupted, typically resulting from infection, genetic defects, or organ failure

例句

The doctor told Kofi that his heart disease could be managed with medication and exercise.

醫生告訴 Kofi，他的心臟疾病可以透過藥物和運動來控制。

uncountable: heart disease / kidney disease

Many children in the region were vaccinated to prevent the spread of the disease.

該地區的許多兒童接種了疫苗，以防止疾病傳播。

passive: 'spread of the disease'

同義詞
  • illness

    broader and more everyday term; 'illness' can describe the experience of being unwell, while 'disease' suggests a specific medical condition

  • sickness

    more informal and can include temporary stomach upset; 'sickness' often refers to feeling ill rather than a lasting condition

  • disorder

    used especially for mental or functional conditions (e.g. sleep disorder); feels more clinical and less severe than 'disease'

  • infection

    specifically caused by germs; a subset of diseases, not all diseases are infections

反義詞
  • health

    the state of being free from disease

文法句型

the disease

a disease

[modifier] + disease

disease + [verb]

用法筆記

Unlike injury (傷), disease refers to an internal condition rather than harm from an external physical event. In everyday conversation, 'disease' often names a specific condition (heart disease, Lyme disease), while 'illness' is more general.

常見錯誤

❌She caught a disease after falling off her bike and breaking her arm.
✅She got an injury after falling off her bike and breaking her arm.
💡'disease' is an internal condition, not harm from an accident.
❌Cancer is a disease which it can spread to other organs.
✅Cancer is a disease that can spread to other organs.
💡Do not add an extra pronoun after the relative pronoun.

2. a serious and harmful problem that spreads through a society, organisation, or g

2.名詞B2
釋義

弊病；禍害

社會或制度中蔓延的有害問題

a serious and harmful problem that spreads through a society, organisation, or group of people, damaging its health or well-being

例句

Faisal called poverty a disease that slowly destroys communities from the inside.

Faisal 稱貧窮是一種從內部逐漸摧毀社群的弊病。

figurative: 'call [something] a disease'

The corruption scandal convinced Jessica that greed had become a disease in the banking industry.

這起貪腐醜聞讓 Jessica 相信，貪婪已成為銀行業的一種弊病。

同義詞
  • plague

    more dramatic and intense; 'plague' suggests widespread destruction and is often used with 'of' (a plague of violence)

  • blight

    suggests something that prevents growth or flourishing; common in urban/social contexts (urban blight)

  • cancer

    carries a stronger connotation of something that grows uncontrollably and destroys from within

反義詞
  • remedy

    something that cures or corrects a harmful situation

文法句型

a + [modifier] + disease + of/among [group]

用法筆記

Always used with a modifier or in a 'disease of/among [group]' construction — never alone in the figurative sense. The modifier identifies the problem (greed, poverty, dishonesty) or the affected group. This sense is common in journalism, opinion writing, and political commentary.

常見錯誤

❌Disease is everywhere in our society.' (without modifier)
✅Greed is a disease that is spreading through our society.
💡The figurative sense always needs a modifier or a 'disease of [something]' structure.