1. 表示“疾病”,通常指具體的“疾病”(可數)。如:
Most diseases could be wiped out. 多數疾病是可以消滅的。
I caught the disease from you. 這病我是從你那傳染來的。
【注】有時指具體疾病的總稱(不可數),即通稱的“疾病”。如:
Rats spread disease. 老鼠傳染疾病。
Cleanliness helps prevent disease. 清潔有助于預防疾病。
2. 用于醫學上表示各種病稱。如:lung disease(肺病),heart disease(心臟病),a nervous disease(神經病),a sex disease(性病),skin disease(皮膚病),contagious diseases(傳染病)等
【注】有個別搭配也用 illness。如:
mental illness [sickness] 精神病
3. 有關“疾病”的表達習慣:
你生了什么病?
正:What’s your trouble?
誤:What’s your disease?
假期中他害了一場大病。
正:While on holiday he caught a serious disease.
誤:While on holiday he caught a big (heavy) disease.