重体
じゅうたい · juutai · JLPT N3 · noun
ailment
🏥 重体 = heavy + body: a body weighed down by grave illness
重 (juu) means heavy or grave, 体 (tai) means body. A heavy body is one in critical condition. News reports use it for life-threatening cases, a step worse than 重傷 (juushou, serious injury).
重 — person 人 + east 東 (phonetic)
Originally depicted a person carrying a heavy bundle on their back, suggesting weight and burden. The 東-like element served as a phonetic component. Over time the character split into two readings: zhòng meaning 'heavy' and chóng meaning 'repeat/again'.