This word works two ways. As an adjective it means “to do with asthma” or “having asthma”: an asthmatic child, an asthmatic cough. That use is still normal in medical English and in everyday speech.

This word works two ways這個字有兩種用法。As an adjective it means "to do with asthma" or "having asthma"當形容詞時，意思是「跟氣喘有關」或「有氣喘」：an asthmatic child有氣喘的小孩, an asthmatic cough氣喘引起的咳嗽。That use is still normal in medical English and in everyday speech這個用法在醫學英文和日常對話裡都很正常。

As a noun, an asthmatic is a person who has asthma. You will meet the noun in older writing and in some medical notes, but many people now prefer “a person with asthma” or “someone who has asthma,” because the noun can sound as if the illness is the whole person. You should recognise it; you do not have to use it about someone.

As a noun, an asthmatic is a person who has asthma當名詞時，asthmatic 指的是有氣喘的人。You will meet the noun in older writing and in some medical notes你會在較舊的文章和一些醫療紀錄裡看到這個名詞用法, but many people now prefer "a person with asthma" or "someone who has asthma,"但現在許多人更偏好說『a person with asthma』或『someone who has asthma』, because the noun can sound as if the illness is the whole person因為名詞用法聽起來會像是這個疾病等於這整個人。You should recognise it; you do not have to use it about someone你應該要看得懂這個用法；但不必用它來稱呼別人。

There is also a loose, slightly unkind use: calling a sound asthmatic when an old engine wheezes. That is picture-language, not a doctor’s word.

There is also a loose, slightly unkind use還有一種鬆散、帶點不客氣的用法：calling a sound asthmatic when an old engine wheezes當一台老引擎發出喘息聲時，把那個聲音說成 asthmatic。That is picture-language, not a doctor's word這是一種比喻性的說法，不是醫生用的字。