zhùyuàn: 住院 - To Be Hospitalized, To Be an Inpatient

• Keywords: zhuyuan, 住院, to be hospitalized in Chinese, inpatient in Chinese, Chinese hospital, sick in China, hospital admission, Chinese medical terms, HSK 3 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 住院 (zhùyuàn), which means “to be hospitalized” or “to be an inpatient.” This page provides a deep dive into its meaning, character origins, and crucial cultural context, such as the important role of family during a hospital stay in China. Discover how to use a 住院 in practical conversations, understand common mistakes, and learn related medical vocabulary to confidently navigate healthcare situations in Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhùyuàn
• Part of Speech: Verb (Verb-Object Compound)
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To be admitted to a hospital for inpatient care.
• In a Nutshell: 住院 (zhùyuàn) is the specific term used when a person is formally checked into a hospital to stay for one or more nights for treatment, surgery, or observation. It's the direct opposite of being an outpatient, which is simply visiting a doctor and then going home (`看病 kànbìng`). If you're staying overnight in a hospital bed, you are `住院`.

• 住 (zhù): This character's primary meaning is “to live,” “to reside,” or “to stay.” Think of the common phrase `你住在哪儿？(Nǐ zhù zài nǎ'er?)` - “Where do you live?”. It implies a period of dwelling.
• 院 (yuàn): This character means “courtyard” or “institution.” It's a key component of words for large, enclosed places like `医院 (yīyuàn)` for “hospital” and `法院 (fǎyuàn)` for “courthouse.”
• The characters combine literally and logically: “to live in the institution (hospital).” This construction makes the meaning very clear—it's not a short visit, but a temporary residence for medical reasons.

Hospitalization in China carries a unique cultural weight that differs significantly from the West. Understanding 住院 (zhùyuàn) goes beyond the word itself and touches on core societal values. In the United States or Europe, a hospitalized patient is cared for almost exclusively by nurses and hospital staff. In China, however, the family's role is paramount. It is extremely common for a family member, often a spouse or adult child, to stay with the patient 24/7. They bring home-cooked meals, help with basic needs like bathing, and provide constant emotional support. This practice, known as `陪护 (péihù)`, is not just a kind gesture but an ingrained expectation rooted in filial piety and collectivist family values. Furthermore, the process of `住院` often begins with paying a substantial upfront deposit (`押金 yājīn`), which can be a source of significant stress for families. While in the West, hospital visits are primarily a medical event, in China, `住院` is a major family event that mobilizes relatives and friends, who will visit (`探病 tànbìng`) bringing gifts of fruit, flowers, or nutritional supplements as a show of support and to fulfill social obligations (`人情 rénqíng`).

住院 (zhùyuàn) is a common and essential term in any discussion about serious illness or surgery.

• Getting Admitted: A doctor will tell you `你需要住院 (Nǐ xūyào zhùyuàn)` - “You need to be hospitalized.” You would then go to the admissions office to `办理住院手续 (bànlǐ zhùyuàn shǒuxù)` - “handle the hospital admission procedures.”
• Discussing a Patient: You might ask a friend, `他为什么住院了？(Tā wèishéme zhùyuàn le?)` - “Why was he hospitalized?” or `他住院住了几天？(Tā zhùyuàn zhùle jǐ tiān?)` - “How many days has he been in the hospital?”
• Distinguishing from a Doctor's Visit: It's critical not to confuse 住院 with 看病 (kànbìng).
  • 看病 (kànbìng): To see a doctor (an outpatient visit). “I have a cold, so I'm going to see a doctor.” - `我感冒了，要去看病。(Wǒ gǎnmào le, yào qù kànbìng.)`
  • 住院 (zhùyuàn): To be admitted to the hospital. “The car accident was serious; he has to be hospitalized.” - `车祸很严重，他需要住院。(Chēhuò hěn yánzhòng, tā xūyào zhùyuàn.)`

• Example 1:
  • 医生说我爸爸需要住院观察几天。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō wǒ bàba xūyào zhùyuàn guānchá jǐ tiān.
  • English: The doctor said my dad needs to be hospitalized for a few days of observation.
  • Analysis: A very common scenario. `观察 (guānchá)` means “to observe,” a frequent reason for hospitalization.
• Example 2:
  • 她因为心脏病住院了。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi xīnzàngbìng zhùyuàn le.
  • English: She was hospitalized because of heart disease.
  • Analysis: `因为 (yīnwèi)` introduces the reason for the `住院`. The `了 (le)` indicates a completed action or change of state.
• Example 3:
  • 你打算什么时候去医院探望住院的王老师？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ dǎsuàn shénme shíhou qù yīyuàn tànwàng zhùyuàn de Wáng lǎoshī?
  • English: When are you planning to visit Teacher Wang, who is in the hospital?
  • Analysis: Here, `住院的` acts as an adjective describing “Teacher Wang.” `探望 (tànwàng)` is a formal word for visiting someone who is sick or in the hospital.
• Example 4:
  • 这次住院花了很多钱。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì zhùyuàn huāle hěn duō qián.
  • English: This hospitalization cost a lot of money.
  • Analysis: 住院 can also function as a noun, meaning “hospital stay” or “hospitalization.”
• Example 5:
  • 办理住院手续很麻烦。
  • Pinyin: Bànlǐ zhùyuàn shǒuxù hěn máfan.
  • English: Handling the hospital admission procedures is very troublesome.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the administrative side of being hospitalized. `办理手续 (bànlǐ shǒuxù)` is a set phrase for “to go through procedures.”
• Example 6:
  • 他手术后需要住院一个星期。
  • Pinyin: Tā shǒushù hòu xūyào zhùyuàn yí ge xīngqī.
  • English: He needs to be hospitalized for one week after his surgery.
  • Analysis: This clearly states the duration of the hospital stay using `一个星期 (yí ge xīngqī)`.
• Example 7:
  • 我爷爷上个月刚出院，希望他不要再住院了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yéye shàng ge yuè gāng chūyuàn, xīwàng tā búyào zài zhùyuàn le.
  • English: My grandpa was just discharged last month; I hope he doesn't have to be hospitalized again.
  • Analysis: This shows the contrast between `出院 (chūyuàn)` (to be discharged) and `住院 (zhùyuàn)`. `再 (zài)` means “again.”
• Example 8:
  • 你住院期间，我会每天来看你的。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhùyuàn qījiān, wǒ huì měitiān lái kàn nǐ de.
  • English: During your hospitalization, I will come to see you every day.
  • Analysis: `期间 (qījiān)` means “during the period of,” so `住院期间` specifically means “during the hospital stay.”
• Example 9:
  • 他的病情很稳定，明天就可以出院了，不用一直住院。
  • Pinyin: Tā de bìngqíng hěn wěndìng, míngtiān jiù kěyǐ chūyuàn le, búyòng yìzhí zhùyuàn.
  • English: His condition is very stable, he can be discharged tomorrow, no need to stay in the hospital continuously.
  • Analysis: `一直 (yìzhí)` means “continuously” or “all along,” emphasizing the state of being an inpatient.
• Example 10:
  • 孩子发高烧，我们赶紧送他去住院。
  • Pinyin: Háizi fā gāoshāo, wǒmen gǎnjǐn sòng tā qù zhùyuàn.
  • English: The child had a high fever, so we rushed him to be hospitalized.
  • Analysis: `送 (sòng)` here means “to take someone to” a place. `赶紧 (gǎnjǐn)` conveys a sense of urgency.

• Mistake 1: Confusing `住院 (zhùyuàn)` with `去医院 (qù yīyuàn)`.
  • `去医院` just means “to go to the hospital.” You could be visiting someone, having a routine check-up, or seeing a doctor as an outpatient. `住院` means you are being admitted to stay overnight.
  • Incorrect: 我感冒了，所以我住院了。 (Wǒ gǎnmào le, suǒyǐ wǒ zhùyuàn le.) - *This sounds overly dramatic, as a common cold rarely requires hospitalization.*
  • Correct: 我感冒了，所以我去医院看病了。(Wǒ gǎnmào le, suǒyǐ wǒ qù yīyuàn kànbìng le.) - “I have a cold, so I went to the hospital to see a doctor.”
• Mistake 2: Using `在医院 (zài yīyuàn)` when you mean `住院 (zhùyuàn)`.
  • `他在医院 (Tā zài yīyuàn)` simply states his location: “He is at the hospital.” He could be a doctor, a visitor, or waiting in the lobby.
  • `他住院了 (Tā zhùyuàn le)` specifies his status: “He has been hospitalized.” This implies he is an admitted patient. To be precise, you should use `住院`.

• 出院 (chūyuàn) - The direct antonym of `住院`; “to be discharged from the hospital.”
• 看病 (kànbìng) - A related but distinct action; “to see a doctor,” typically as an outpatient.
• 医院 (yīyuàn) - The location where one is hospitalized; “hospital.”
• 医生 (yīshēng) - The professional who decides if you need to `住院`; “doctor.”
• 护士 (hùshi) - The professional who cares for you during your hospital stay; “nurse.”
• 病人 (bìngrén) - The person who is `住院`; a “patient.”
• 手术 (shǒushù) - A common reason for being hospitalized; “surgery” or “operation.”
• 探病 (tànbìng) - The act of visiting a person who is `住院`; “to visit a patient.” (More formal than `看 (kàn)`).
• 病房 (bìngfáng) - The specific room a patient stays in; “hospital ward” or “sickroom.”
• 押金 (yājīn) - A culturally important term related to the process; “security deposit,” which is often required upon hospital admission.