流行はやり病やまい

は

や

り

や

ま

い

Meanings

1

noun

epidemic; plague

Refers to a widespread infectious disease in a community. Often used in historical or literary contexts, but also in modern discussions of outbreaks. Compare with 流行病 (りゅうこうびょう), which is the more technical term.

See also: 流行病 (りゅうこうびょう)

中ちゅう世せいヨーロッパでは

流行はや

り

病やまい

が

何なん

度ど

も

猛もう

威い

を

振ふ

るっ

た

。

In medieval Europe, epidemics raged many times.

この村むらでは流行はやり病やまいで多おおくの人ひとが亡なくなった。

Many people in this village died from the epidemic.

Kanji

流current, a sink, flow
行going, journey, carry out
病ill, sick

Related words

流りゅう行こう病びょう
More formal and technical term for epidemic. 流行り病 (はやりやまい) has a slightly more colloquial or literary feel.

Built from

流行はやる+病やまい

Written forms

流行はやり病やまい
Standard kanji spelling with okurigana, clearly indicating the reading はやりやまい.
はやり病やまい
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; less common but still encountered.
流行病はやりやまい
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; normally read りゅうこうびょう. Using this spelling for はやりやまい is nonstandard and may cause confusion.

Etymology

Compound of 流行り (はやり, 'popular, prevalent') and 病 (やまい, 'illness'). The reading はやりやまい is a kun'yomi compound.