旧病复发

舊病復發

jiùbìng-fùfā

idiom

Meanings

1 an old illness returns
2 a relapse
3 (figuratively) an old bad habit resurfaces

Characters

break out / arise

Examples

他最近旧病复发，又住院了。

Tā zuìjìn jiùbìngfùfā, yòu zhùyuàn le.

His old illness recently flared up again, and he's back in the hospital.

戒烟三年，结果旧病复发，又抽上了。

Jièyān sānnián, jiéguǒ jiùbìngfùfā, yòu chōu shàng le.

He quit smoking for three years, but the old habit came back and he started again.

天气一变，她的关节炎就旧病复发。

Tiānqì yī biàn, tā de guānjiéyán jiù jiùbìngfùfā.

Whenever the weather changes, her arthritis flares up again.

Tips

history

Attested in 《三国演义》 chapter 32: Yuan Shao hears of his son's defeat, '旧病复发，吐血数斗' — his old illness relapsed and he vomited blood. Used for literal illness and figurative bad habits.

usage

Works for real illnesses (cancer, arthritis) and for recurring bad behaviors (drinking, gambling).

Stroke Order

旧 jiù

病 bìng

复 fù

发 fā