痼

A phono-semantic compound:

疒 (illness, disease, physical affliction) — semantic component, indicates a disease or pathological condition

固 (firm, fixed, solid) — phonetic component, contributes the sound and the idea of something fixed or stubborn

The original meaning of 痼 refers to an illness that is firmly fixed in the body, namely:

- a disease that does not heal easily

- a condition that persists for a long time

- an ailment resistant to treatment

Thus, from its earliest usage, 痼 already carried the nuance of chronicity and obstinacy.

Because such illnesses are: long-lasting, difficult to cure,

deeply ingrained, 痼 was later extended metaphorically to describe:

- entrenched habits

- deep-seated problems

- long-standing social or moral evils

This figurative use is especially common in classical and literary contexts.

Almost exclusively appears in 고질 (痼疾) — chronic illness; ingrained bad habit.

Often used metaphorically:

고질적인 문제 (“a chronic problem”)

痼 emphasizes duration and resistance, not severity alone.

Conceptual contrast:

病 — illness (general)

疾 — acute disease

痛 — pain

痼 — chronic, stubborn disease