健康 jiànkāng health
health; healthy
How to remember 健康: 健 strong + 康 health = health.
Characters
How it is used
- Both a noun and adjective for health/healthy - 身体健康 (shēntǐ jiànkāng) to be in good health, a standard well-wish.
- Extends beyond bodies to 'sound/wholesome': 健康的心态 (jiànkāng de xīntài) a healthy mindset, 健康发展 healthy development.
- For 'healthy food' Chinese says 健康食品; note 健康 describes the state, while 保健 (bǎojiàn) is health-care/upkeep.
- Common New Year greeting: 祝你身体健康 (zhù nǐ shēntǐ jiànkāng) wishing you good health.
Example sentences
- 我希望你很健康。 Wǒ xīwàng nǐ hěn jiànkāng.I hope that you are very well.
- 她为了健康锻炼身体。 Tā wèile jiànkāng duànliàn shēntǐ.She exercises for her health.
- 吸烟影响健康。 Xīyān yǐngxiǎng jiànkāng.Smoking affects one's health.