癫 (diān) - mad & insane

癫Tone 1

diān ｜ 21 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

癫 · diān

mad;

insane;

crazy;

mentally deranged;

also used in the word for epilepsy.

madinsanecrazy

Usage highlights

EpilepsyMadnessCrazyLunatic asylumEpileptic seizureMadman

Synonyms

  • 疯— mad; crazy; insane
  • 狂— wild; frantic; manic
  • 痴— silly; idiotic; foolish

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was acting crazy (癫狂).
  • The patient has epilepsy (癫痫).
  • The artist had a frenzied creative state (癫疯状态).
  • His behavior was utterly insane (疯癫).

Collocations

  • Epilepsy(癫痫)
  • Madness(癫狂)
  • Crazy(疯癫)
  • Lunatic asylum(癫人院)
  • Epileptic seizure(癫痫发作)
  • Madman(癫子)

Idioms

  • Mad and foolish(癫癫傻傻)
  • To feign madness(装疯卖癫)
  • A madman's dream(癫人之梦)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with mental illness and neurological disorders like epilepsy.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, 'dian' conditions were often linked to internal wind or phlegm misting the heart.
  • The character carries a strong negative connotation and is rarely used in a positive or neutral context.

FAQ