jiànkāng: 健康 - Health, Healthy

• Keywords: jiankang, 健康, health in Chinese, how to say healthy in Chinese, Chinese word for health, physical health, mental health, Chinese culture health, 祝你健康, 身体健康, traditional Chinese medicine.
• Summary: Discover the profound meaning of 健康 (jiànkāng), the essential Chinese word for “health” and “healthy.” This page explores how jiànkāng goes beyond the absence of illness, representing a holistic state of physical vitality, mental tranquility, and overall balance. Learn its cultural significance in daily life, common greetings, and how it forms the cornerstone of well-being in Chinese society.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiàn kāng
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: Health; healthy.
• In a Nutshell: 健康 (jiànkāng) is the fundamental Chinese concept for a state of well-being. It's not just about being free from sickness; it's a positive and holistic ideal that encompasses physical strength, a peaceful mind, and a balanced lifestyle. It's something you wish for others and strive for yourself.

• 健 (jiàn): The left side is the “person” radical (亻), indicating it's about a person. The right side, 建 (jiàn), means “to build.” Together, 健 (jiàn) paints a picture of a well-built, strong, and robust person.
• 康 (kāng): This character often means peaceful, stable, or prosperous. It implies a state of ease and tranquility.
• When combined, 健康 (jiànkāng) literally means “strong and peaceful.” This beautifully captures the Chinese perspective on health: it is a harmonious blend of a strong body and a calm, stable spirit.

In Chinese culture, 健康 (jiànkāng) is arguably the most important life goal, often considered more valuable than wealth or fame. Its meaning is deeply rooted in principles of balance and harmony found in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and philosophies like Daoism. Unlike the Western tendency to separate physical and mental health, 健康 is inherently holistic. It's about the smooth flow of `气 (qì)` (vital energy) and the balance between `阴 (yīn)` and `阳 (yáng)`. This is why diet (`食疗 shíliáo` - food therapy) and lifestyle practices like Tai Chi (`太极 tàijí`) and `养生 (yǎngshēng)` (life nourishment) are central to maintaining 健康. A common Western concept is “fitness,” often measured by metrics like muscle mass, BMI, or running speed. While related, 健康 is much broader. A person might be very “fit” but considered not fully 健康 if they are overworked, stressed, or have a poor diet, as this disrupts their internal balance. The ultimate expression of care for another person in Chinese culture is often not “I hope you're successful,” but “I hope you are healthy” (`祝你身体健康 zhù nǐ shēntǐ jiànkāng`).

健康 is a high-frequency word used in a wide range of contexts.

• Greetings and Well-Wishes: It is extremely common to wish someone good health, especially elders, during birthdays, or on holidays like Chinese New Year. `祝你身体健康 (zhù nǐ shēntǐ jiànkāng)` is a classic, heartfelt blessing.
• Describing People and Lifestyles: You can use it as an adjective to describe a person (`他很健康 - Tā hěn jiànkāng`) or a lifestyle (`健康的生活方式 - jiànkāng de shēnghuó fāngshì`).
• Food and Products: The term is widely used in marketing for food, drinks, and supplements to label them as “healthy choices.”
• Public Discourse: The government and media frequently discuss 健康 in the context of public health policies, healthcare reform, and promoting national well-being.
• Mental Health: To be specific about mental well-being, Chinese speakers will say `心理健康 (xīnlǐ jiànkāng)`.

• Example 1:
  • 为了健康，我每天都坚持锻炼。
  • Pinyin: Wèile jiànkāng, wǒ měitiān dōu jiānchí duànliàn.
  • English: For the sake of health, I persist in exercising every day.
  • Analysis: Here, 健康 is used as a noun, representing the goal or reason for the action. `为了 (wèile)` means “for the sake of.”
• Example 2:
  • 祝您身体健康，万事如意！
  • Pinyin: Zhù nín shēntǐ jiànkāng, wànshì rúyì!
  • English: Wishing you good health and that all your wishes come true!
  • Analysis: This is a very common and formal blessing, often said to elders or superiors. `您 (nín)` is the polite form of “you.”
• Example 3:
  • 他看起来很健康，脸上总是红光满面。
  • Pinyin: Tā kànqǐlái hěn jiànkāng, liǎnshàng zǒngshì hóngguāng mǎnmiàn.
  • English: He looks very healthy, his face is always glowing with vitality.
  • Analysis: 健康 is used as a simple adjective. The idiom `红光满面 (hóngguāng mǎnmiàn)` is a classic descriptor for a healthy-looking person.
• Example 4:
  • 健康比金钱更重要。
  • Pinyin: Jiànkāng bǐ jīnqián gèng zhòngyào.
  • English: Health is more important than money.
  • Analysis: A simple but profound sentence showing cultural values. `比 (bǐ)` is used for comparisons.
• Example 5:
  • 医生建议我们保持健康的饮食习惯。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng jiànyì wǒmen bǎochí jiànkāng de yǐnshí xíguàn.
  • English: The doctor advises us to maintain healthy dietary habits.
  • Analysis: 健康 modifies the noun phrase `饮食习惯 (yǐnshí xíguàn)`, meaning “dietary habits.”
• Example 6:
  • 多吃蔬菜和水果对你的健康有好处。
  • Pinyin: Duō chī shūcài hé shuǐguǒ duì nǐ de jiànkāng yǒu hǎochù.
  • English: Eating more vegetables and fruits is good for your health.
  • Analysis: The structure `对…有好处 (duì…yǒu hǎochù)` means “is good for…” or “has benefits for…”.
• Example 7:
  • 心理健康和身体健康同样重要。
  • Pinyin: Xīnlǐ jiànkāng hé shēntǐ jiànkāng tóngyàng zhòngyào.
  • English: Mental health and physical health are equally important.
  • Analysis: This shows how 健康 can be specified. `心理 (xīnlǐ)` means mental/psychological, and `身体 (shēntǐ)` means body/physical.
• Example 8:
  • 这是一个非常不健康的生活方式。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge fēicháng bù jiànkāng de shēnghuó fāngshì.
  • English: This is a very unhealthy lifestyle.
  • Analysis: Shows the negative form, `不健康 (bù jiànkāng)`, meaning “unhealthy.”
• Example 9:
  • 他的健康状况最近不太好。
  • Pinyin: Tā de jiànkāng zhuàngkuàng zuìjìn bú tài hǎo.
  • English: His health condition has not been very good recently.
  • Analysis: `健康状况 (jiànkāng zhuàngkuàng)` is a common collocation meaning “health status” or “health condition.”
• Example 10:
  • 很多年轻人开始关注健康养生了。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén kāishǐ guānzhù jiànkāng yǎngshēng le.
  • English: Many young people have started paying attention to health and wellness practices.
  • Analysis: This links 健康 with the culturally specific concept of `养生 (yǎngshēng)`, the art of nourishing life.

• “Healthy” vs. “Fit”: Don't equate 健康 (jiànkāng) with the English word “fit.” A bodybuilder is very fit (`强壮 - qiángzhuàng`), but if they use steroids or have an unbalanced lifestyle, a Chinese speaker might not consider them truly 健康. 健康 implies internal balance, not just external strength.
• “Healthy” for Objects: In English, we can say “a healthy economy” or “a healthy relationship.” You cannot use 健康 this way in Chinese. You would use other words like `良性 (liángxìng)` for “healthy/benign development” or `良好 (liánghǎo)` for “good/positive.”
  • Incorrect: `我们的经济很健康。(Wǒmen de jīngjì hěn jiànkāng.)`
  • Correct: `我们的经济发展很良好。(Wǒmen de jīngjì fāzhǎn hěn liánghǎo.)`
• Overusing it for food: While you can say food is 健康, it's often more natural to be specific, e.g., `这个菜很清淡 (zhège cài hěn qīngdàn - This dish is light)` or `不油腻 (bù yóunì - not greasy)`.

• 身体 (shēntǐ) - Body. Often paired with health in the phrase `身体健康 (shēntǐ jiànkāng)`, meaning “physical health.”
• 养生 (yǎngshēng) - To nourish life. This is the active practice of maintaining health through specific diets, exercises, and habits, deeply rooted in Chinese culture.
• 强壮 (qiángzhuàng) - Strong, sturdy, robust. More focused on physical strength and build than the holistic nature of 健康.
• 卫生 (wèishēng) - Hygiene, sanitation. Relates to the public and environmental aspects of health.
• 保健 (bǎojiàn) - Health protection, healthcare. Often seen in terms like `保健品 (bǎojiàn pǐn)`, or health supplements.
• 疾病 (jíbìng) - Sickness, disease. The direct antonym of 健康.
• 安全 (ānquán) - Safe, safety. While distinct, safety is a prerequisite for health and well-being.
• 舒服 (shūfu) - Comfortable. Describes the feeling of being well. If you are not feeling well, you can say `不舒服 (bù shūfu)`.