China virus
- noun
- Slur
:
virus chino (ofensivo)
- Many medical experts advise against calling COVID-19 the China virus because it fuels discrimination.
Examples
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International organizations have condemned the phrase China virus for promoting stigma against Asian communities.
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The use of the term China virus has sparked controversy around the world.
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The term China virus has been widely criticized.
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Many people find the phrase China virus offensive.
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International organizations have condemned the phrase China virus for promoting stigma against Asian communities.
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Many medical experts advise against calling COVID-19 the China virus because it fuels discrimination.
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The use of the term China virus has sparked controversy around the world.
Synonyms
1
3.3
A germ that can cause lung and breathing problems like COVID-19
A disease caused by a virus first found in Wuhan, China in 2019 that spread around the world in 2020
A former name for COVID-19, a virus that causes lung illness
An illness caused by a coronavirus that affects the lungs and breathing, for example COVID-19
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a virus originating in China' is directly and transparently derived from the constituents 'China' (a place) and 'virus' (a pathogen), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the referent. Although the term is politically charged and potentially offensive or stigmatizing, that pragmatic/ethical information does not reduce its compositional transparency.
Etymology
The name China virus comes from people linking the new virus to the place China, where the first cases were seen. Because the phrase points to a country and its people, many call it 'offensive' and say it can make people from China or other Asian countries feel 'blamed' or face 'discrimination', so experts advise not to use it.