健康

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 健康 (jiànkāng) for "health" is composed of two characters: 健 (jiàn), meaning "strong" or "healthy," and 康 (kāng), meaning "peace" or "well-being." Together, these characters convey the idea of a state of physical and mental well-being.The character 健 (jiàn) is composed of two parts: the radical 力 (lì), meaning "strength," and the phonetic component 建 (jiàn). The radical 力 suggests that strength is a key component of health, while the phonetic component 建 hints at the idea of building or establishing something, in this case, one's health.The character 康 (kāng) is also composed of two parts: the radical 禾 (hé), meaning "grain" or "harvest," and the phonetic component 康 (kāng). The radical 禾 suggests that a plentiful harvest is essential for good health, as food is a basic necessity for survival. The phonetic component 康 hints at the idea of peace and tranquility, which are also important factors in maintaining good health.When combined, the characters 健 (jiàn) and 康 (kāng) form the word 健康 (jiànkāng), which encapsulates the idea of a state of physical and mental well-being, where one is strong, healthy, and at peace.