syndrome

syndrome — noun

1. A group of physical or mental signs that happen together and point to a particul

1.名詞B2
釋義

A group of physical or mental signs that happen together and point to a particular health problem or disease.

例句

Ari was diagnosed with a rare syndrome that affects the nerves in his hands.

passive: diagnosed with + [adjective] syndrome

Doctors noticed a syndrome of fever, rash, and joint pain in several patients.

a syndrome of + [symptoms]

同義詞
  • condition

    a broader, less specific term; any state of health, not necessarily a pattern of symptoms

  • disorder

    suggests a disruption of normal function; often used interchangeably but disorder is more general

  • disease

    implies a specific pathological process with a known cause; a syndrome may develop into a named disease

文法句型

a syndrome + of + [symptoms]

[adjective] + syndrome

用法筆記

Countable noun — always requires an article (a syndrome, the syndrome) or a determiner. Frequently appears in medical writing with an adjective that classifies the type: 'rare syndrome', 'genetic syndrome', 'chronic syndrome'. When listing specific symptoms, use the pattern 'a syndrome of [symptom A], [symptom B], and [symptom C]'.

常見錯誤

❌He was diagnosed with syndrome.
✅He was diagnosed with a syndrome.
💡Syndrome is countable and needs an article or determiner.
❌Fever and cough are a disease.
✅Fever and cough together may form a syndrome.
💡A syndrome is a set of symptoms that occur together, not necessarily a single disease with a known cause.

2. Used as part of the official label for a specific diagnosed disorder, usually wi

2.名詞B2
釋義

Used as part of the official label for a specific diagnosed disorder, usually with a capitalized preceding word or phrase.

例句

Down syndrome is one of the most well-known genetic conditions among parents and doctors.

named syndrome: Down syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome causes stomach pain and bloating after eating certain foods.

named syndrome: irritable bowel syndrome

文法句型

[Proper Name] + syndrome

[Adjective] + [Noun] + syndrome

用法筆記

In this naming pattern, 'syndrome' follows a modifier that identifies the specific illness. The modifier may be a doctor's name (Down syndrome, Tourette syndrome), a description of symptoms (irritable bowel syndrome, restless legs syndrome), or a place name (Havana syndrome). Some names are capitalized, others are not — usage varies and is best checked in a medical reference.

常見錯誤

❌He suffers from Down Syndrome.
✅He suffers from Down syndrome.
💡In modern usage, 'syndrome' is not capitalized after the proper name.

3. A recognizable collection of negative feelings, thoughts, or actions that people

3.名詞B2
釋義

A recognizable collection of negative feelings, thoughts, or actions that people display when facing certain stressful circumstances, often given a descriptive label.

例句

Padma suffers from impostor syndrome and fears her coworkers will discover her lack of skill.

suffer from + impostor syndrome

Stockholm syndrome explains why some kidnapped people develop sympathy for their captors over time.

Stockholm syndrome as subject

同義詞
  • pattern

    neutral term for recurring behaviour; less dramatic and metaphorical than 'syndrome'

  • tendency

    suggests a habitual inclination rather than a full set of symptoms or behaviours

  • complex

    used in psychology for a group of related emotions or impulses; more technical

文法句型

[name] + syndrome

suffer from + [name] + syndrome

用法筆記

This non-medical use of 'syndrome' is very common in everyday and popular-psychology language. Well-known examples include 'impostor syndrome' (feeling like a fraud despite success), 'Stockholm syndrome' (captives bonding with captors), 'burnout syndrome' (emotional exhaustion from overwork), and 'savior syndrome' (compulsively helping others at personal cost). Unlike medical syndromes, these are not formal diagnoses — they are descriptive labels for recognizable patterns of behaviour.

常見錯誤

❌I have the impostor syndrome.
✅I have impostor syndrome.
💡Article is typically dropped in non-medical syndrome names.
❌Stockholm Syndrome is a disease.
✅Stockholm syndrome is a psychological pattern, not a medical disease.
💡Non-medical syndromes are descriptive labels, not formal diagnoses.