The impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is now being felt around the world. The pandemic has taken over the news cycle, shut down entire countries and economies, tragically killed thousands and left billions quarantined in their homes while practicing social distancing.
If you are stuck at home and want to learn key coronavirus vocabulary words in Chinese, take this opportunity to learn some of the most commonly used Chinese words and phrases regarding the coronavirus.
General Coronavirus Vocabulary
Character Pinyin English
新型冠状病毒 xīnxíng guānzhuàngbìngdú COVID-19
疫情 yìqíng epidemic
病毒 bìngdú virus
恢复 huīfù to recover
封城 fēngchéng city-wide lockdown
疑似病例 yísì bìnglì suspected case
确诊病例 quèzhěn bìnglì confirmed case
治愈率 zhìyùlǜ cure rate
死亡率 sǐwánglǜ mortality rate
湖北省 Húběi Shěng Hubei Province
武汉 Wǔhàn Wuhan
症状 zhèngzhuàng symptoms
传染 chuánrǎn to infect
肺炎 fèiyán pneumonia
世界卫生组织 Shìjiè Wèishēng Zǔzhī World Health Organization
医院 yīyuàn hospital
医生 yīshēng doctor
重症监护室 zhòngzhèng jiānhùshì Intensive care unit (ICU)
海鲜市场 hǎixiān shìchǎng seafood market
野味(儿) yěwèi (‘er) dishes made from wild animals
取消 qǔxiāo cancel
口罩 kǒuzhào mask
戴口罩 dài kǒuzhào to wear a mask
吃药 chīyào to take medicine
免洗洗手液 miǎnxǐ xǐshǒuyè hand sanitizer
消毒 xiāodú to disinfect/to sterilize
洗手 xǐshǒu to wash your hands
隔离 gélí quarantine
少出门 shǎo chūmén go out less often
护目镜 hùmùjìng safety goggles
防护服 fánghùfú protective clothing
手套 shǒutào gloves
Coronavirus Symptoms in Chinese
Character Pinyin English
鼻塞 bísāi to have a stuffy nose/to feel congested
生病 shēngbìng to get sick/to be ill
喉咙痛 hóulóng tòng to have a sore throat
发烧 fāshāo to have a fever
呼吸困难 hūxī kùnnàn difficulty breathing/heavy breathing
咳嗽 késou to cough
⼲咳 gānké dry cough
Chinese Phrases Related to Coronavirus
Character Pinyin English
武汉加油！ Wǔhàn jiāyóu! Stay strong Wuhan!
中国加油！ Zhōngguó jiāyóu! Stay strong China!
祝你身体健康。 Zhùnǐ shēntǐ jiànkāng. Wishing you good health.
你最近怎么样？ Nǐ zuìjìn zěnmeyàng? How have you been recently?
你的家人最近还好吗？ Nǐ de jiārén zuìjìn háihǎo ma? Have your family been okay recently?
你不舒服吗？ Nǐ bù shūfu ma? Are you not feeling well?
希望你早点好起来。 Xīwàng nǐ zǎodiǎn hǎoqǐlai. I hope you get better soon.
好好休息。 Hǎohāo xiūxi. Rest up.
