24．疒部 sickness
病disease入attack膏肓vitals
King of the Jin State was very ill. He had seen many doctors, but his symptoms did not get any better. One day, he heard of a famous doctor in the Qin State, and sent his servant for the doctor. The doctor came to Jin and visited the King. He examined him carefully. After the examination, the doctor told the King that his illness was incurable because the disease head already attacked his vital organs. It was too late to do anything.
The idiom 病入膏肓describes a problem or calamity that is already beyond repair.
【拼音】bìng rù gāo huāng
【解释】古人说心下面有一小块脂肪做膏，心脏与横膈膜之间的部位叫做肓。膏和肓之间是药力达不到的地方，形容病情严重，无法医治。比喻事情到了无法挽救的地方。
【出处】春秋鲁·左丘明《左传·成公十年》：“疾不可为也，在肓之上，膏之下，攻之不可，达之不及，药不至焉，不可为也。”
