An Interpretation of the Chinese Word “Fanteng”

The word “fanteng” (烦疼) has long been controversial.From the evolution paths of the two sememes “re” (hot) and “duo” (many) of the element“fan”, and through comparison between literature and examination of the syndrome“fanke”, we can find that“fan”in“fanteng”does not refer to the syndrome of annoyance, but means “frequent or continuous”.Therefore, “fanteng” should be “frequent or continuous ache”.This bisyllabic word is used to describe the ache in various parts of human body.