胃炎 (wèi yán) literally means 'stomach inflammation' — 胃 (wèi) means 'stomach' and 炎 (yán) means 'inflammation' or 'swelling', a common suffix in medical terms like 肺炎 (pneumonia) or 扁桃体炎 (tonsillitis). Together, they form the precise medical term for gastritis: inflammation of the stomach lining, often caused by infection (e.g., H. pylori), excessive alcohol, NSAID use, or stress.

This is a formal clinical term used by doctors, in medical reports, health education, and pharmacy contexts. It’s not used casually in everyday conversation — people might say 我胃不舒服 (my stomach feels uncomfortable) instead of saying I have 胃炎. It appears frequently in hospital diagnoses, prescription notes, and public health materials about digestive health.