“病”本义考证

Textual Research on the original meaning of Bing(病)

"病"的本义,今或作重病义,或作疾病义。通过对《诗经》等八部早期上古文献中的"病"、"疾病"用例考察,发现早期疾病义都用"疾","病"不用作疾病义,更无重病义;"疾病"连用,其"病"为形容词的危重义。进而通过对八部上古文献中"病"、"疾病"所有词义及其训诂的梳理,可定"病"的本义是困苦义。

The bing is explained as semanteme of serious disease or common illness nowadays. However, intrinsic meaning of bing does not have the meaning of illness nor serious disease as ji（疾） actually contains these meanings. Recieving of the usage cases in the eight noted ancient books, such as Shijing shows that bing was an adjective equal with being serious when ji and bing were joined together. We finally reach the conclusion that the original meaning of bing is suffering hardship instead.