中风

中風

zhòngfēng

noun #7,032

Meanings

Literally 'struck by wind' — reflects the traditional Chinese medicine belief that strokes were caused by pathogenic wind.

Tā yéye qùnián zhòngfēng le.

His grandfather had a stroke last year.

Gāo xuèyā huì zēngjiā zhòngfēng de fēngxiǎn.

High blood pressure increases the risk of stroke.

mistakes

中风 is pronounced zhòngfēng (4th tone + 1st tone), not zhōngfēng. The 中 here means 'to be hit by' (中毒 zhòngdú, to be poisoned), not 'middle.'

memory

Think of being 'struck' (中) by wind (风) — ancient Chinese medicine believed strokes were caused by 'evil wind' entering the body.

中 zhōng

风 fēng