Learn Some Viral Mandarin to Fight Your Coronavirus Boredom
As the coronavirus outbreak continues to disrupt daily life in China, many of us are eager (and have a lot of free time) to follow what's happening with regards to virus' spread but are unable to understand what's happening via Chinese channels. Fear not, as these key words should help you gain a better grasp of what's going on.
冠状病毒 guānzhuàng bìngdú - Coronavirus
The culprit of the epidemic that is currently spreading in China and internationally. A novel strain of the notorious familyof viruses that also caused both SARS and MERS.
新型冠状病毒 xīnxíng guānzhuàng bìngdú - 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
The specific name for this newly discovered coronavirus.
肺炎 fèiyán - Pneumonia
An illness that causes inflammation of the lungs like what is seen in sufferers of the coronavirus.
武汉 wǔhàn - Wuhan
The capital of Hubei province and where the coronavirus outbreak started.
湖北 húběi - Hubei
Literally "north lake," Hubei is a landlocked province in central China that sits above Dongting Lake. It was also the first province to be contaminated by the new coronavirus and has the most confirmed cases so far.
封城 fēng chéng - City lockdown
The decision by the Chinese government to suspend public transportation and restrict travel in and out of certain areas in order to try and curb infection. Wuhan officially went into lockdown on Jan 23, with various cities, largely in Hubei province, since following suit.
一级响应 yī jí xiǎngyìng - Level 1 emergency response
The highest response to an emergency situation in China, including public health events. Currently, 31 provinces in China have adopted the emergency response, meaning that all decisions will be made by the State Council and implemented directly.
人传人 rén chuánrén - Human to human transmissionDifferences between limited and sustained human to human transmission
变异 biànyì - Mutate
As long as the virus continues to spread among humans, it is likely to mutate. It was also mutations that likely allowed it to "jump" from animals to humans as well as humans to humans.
野味儿 yěwèi'er - Dishes made from wild animals
It is almost certain that the coronavirus originated in bats before mutating and infecting humans. Any animal that is not legally bred or qualified for quarantine standards may contain the coronavirus, as well as many other dangerous viruses, bacteria, and parasites.
疫苗 yìmiáo - Vaccine
Work continues on the development of a vaccine for 2019-nCoV and will likely take months to produce.
口罩 kǒuzhào - Mask
While wearing a mask may help put your mind at ease, there is, as quoted from the World Health Oragnization, "not required, as no evidence is available on its usefulness to protect non-sick persons," i.e. those without respiratory symptoms. Therefore, "Wearing medical masks when not indicated may cause unnecessary cost, procurement burden, and create a false sense of security that can lead to neglecting other essential measures such as hand hygiene practices."
洗手液 xǐ shǒu yè - Sanitizer
The World Health Organizations's hand hygiene practices include frequently washing your hands with soap and using hand sanitizer.
消毒剂 xiāo dú jì - Disinfectant
Seventy-five percent alcohol and high heat should speed up the inactivation process of the new coronavirus. However, please not that binge drinking and going to the sauna will not.
护目镜 hù mùjìng - Goggles
For people who have close contact with the people infected with the coronavirus, wearing goggles may help prevent the virus from entering via the mucous membrane.
医疗物资 yīliáo wùzī - Medical resources
Includes all the above and more. Hubei province is currently suffering a shortage in medical supplies in order to maintain proper hospital functions and medical staff safe.
体温 tǐwēn - Body temperature
If you're feeling like you have a fever, you should check your body temperature and head to a...
发热门诊 fārè ménzhěn - Designated fever clinic
A specially designated clinic for people who have suspected symptoms of the coronavirus. There are now 101 designated clinics in Beijing.
症状 zhèngzhuàng - Symptoms
Symptoms of the new coronavirus are various but often include a dry cough (干咳 gānké), chest congestion (胸闷 xiōngmèn), fever (发烧 fāshāo), reduced appetite (食欲不振 shíyù bùzhèn), malaise (不适 bùshì), and headaches (头痛 tóuténg).
隔离 gélí - Quarantine
For anyone who has been to Wuhan or had close contact with people who were showing symptoms of the coronavirus, quarantine is a wise and responsible action to take.
潜伏期 qiánfú qí - Incubation period
The incubation for the virus is believed to be around 14 days, meaning that an infected person may not show symptoms for a couple of weeks after the time they were actually infected.
核酸检测试剂盒 hésuān jiǎncè shìjì hé - Diagnostic kit
A medical testing kit used to see whether someone has been infected by 2019-nCoV.
疑似病例 yísì bìnglì - Suspected cases
Patients who show similar symptoms to those seen with the coronavirus but haven’t been confirmed to have it with a medical test.
确诊病例 quèzhěn bìnglì - Confirmed/diagnosed cases
Those patients who have been confirmed to have the coronavirus with a medical test.
大使馆 dàshǐguǎn - Embassy
If you're unsure what you should do in a crisis situation, please seek help from your embassy. Several countries have warned against unnecessary travel to China and may even be arranging means for citizens of their country to leave.
谣言 yáoyán - Rumor
As is natural in times of panic and confusion, rumors are rife. We're trying our best to debunk the most prevalent here.
病假 bìng jià - Sick leave
If you do feel ill, it's best to exercise caution and call in sick as going to work with the virus will only put your colleagues at risk.
取消 qǔxiāo - Cancel
Almost all public gatherings and events in Beijing have been canceled and are currently advised against.
延后 yánhòu - Postpone
Beijing schools have postponed their back to school dates amid coronavirus outbreak, while many offices have been advised to remain shut until at least Feb 10.Coronavirus Math: OMG Look What's Skyrocketing!
Image: China Law Translate
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