chūyuàn: 出院 - To Be Discharged from the Hospital

• Keywords: chūyuàn, 出院, discharge from hospital Chinese, leave hospital Chinese, getting out of the hospital in China, Chinese medical terms, hospitalized in Chinese, 住院, 出院手续
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 出院 (chūyuàn), meaning “to be discharged from the hospital.” This comprehensive guide explores its literal meaning (“exit the institution”), its opposite “住院 (zhùyuàn - to be hospitalized),” and the cultural context of family involvement in Chinese healthcare. Discover practical example sentences for talking with doctors, family, and handling discharge procedures (出院手续), making it a vital resource for anyone navigating health matters in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chū yuàn
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase (functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To be discharged from a hospital after a period of in-patient treatment.
• In a Nutshell: 出院 (chūyuàn) is the standard and direct term for leaving the hospital after being officially admitted as a patient. It marks the formal end of a hospital stay and the beginning of recovery at home. It's a compound of 出 (chū), meaning 'to exit', and 院 (yuàn), which is shorthand for 'hospital' (医院, yīyuàn). Think of it as “checking out” of the hospital.

• 出 (chū): This character means “to go out,” “to exit,” or “to emerge.” Pictorially, it can be imagined as a plant sprouting up and out from the ground (represented by the character 山 in ancient forms).
• 院 (yuàn): This character means “courtyard,” “compound,” or “institution.” It's used in words for places like a hospital (医院 yīyuàn), a courthouse (法院 fǎyuàn), or a movie theater (电影院 diànyǐngyuàn). In the word 出院, it specifically refers to the hospital.

When combined, 出院 (chūyuàn) literally means “to exit the institution,” which in a medical context is understood precisely as being discharged from the hospital.

Being able to 出院 (chūyuàn) is a significant and happy event in Chinese culture, signifying recovery and a return to normalcy. It is a moment of great relief not just for the patient, but for the entire family. A key difference from much of Western culture is the degree of family involvement. In China, it's very common for family members to stay with the patient around the clock, providing supplementary care, bringing food, and liaising with doctors. Therefore, the discharge is a collective milestone. The family has weathered the crisis together, and the act of leaving the hospital is a shared victory. This reflects the strong value of filial piety (孝顺 xiàoshùn) and the collective nature of the family unit in handling major life events like illness. The process isn't just a patient being released; it's a family bringing a loved one home.

出院 (chūyuàn) is a common, everyday term used in both formal and informal contexts related to healthcare.

• In Conversation: People use it to ask about a patient's status (“When can she be discharged?”), to share good news (“Grandma is being discharged tomorrow!”), or to describe a past illness (“I was in the hospital for a week and was discharged last Friday.”).
• At the Hospital: This is a key procedural term. You will hear it from doctors and nurses when they confirm you are well enough to leave. A crucial related phrase is 办理出院手续 (bànlǐ chūyuàn shǒuxù), which means “to handle the discharge procedures,” including paying the final bill and collecting medication.
• Connotation: The term is almost always positive, associated with relief, recovery, and happiness. In a purely administrative context, it's neutral.

• Example 1:
  • 医生，我什么时候可以出院？
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng, wǒ shénme shíhòu kěyǐ chūyuàn?
  • English: Doctor, when can I be discharged from the hospital?
  • Analysis: This is a very common and direct question a patient would ask their doctor. It's a textbook example of how to use the term.
• Example 2:
  • 爸爸明天就要出院了，我们去接他吧！
  • Pinyin: Bàba míngtiān jiù yào chūyuàn le, wǒmen qù jiē tā ba!
  • English: Dad is getting discharged tomorrow, let's go pick him up!
  • Analysis: The particle combination `就要…了 (jiù yào…le)` indicates an action that is about to happen soon, adding a sense of immediacy and often excitement.
• Example 3:
  • 你恢复得很好，下周一就可以出院了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ huīfù de hěn hǎo, xià zhōuyī jiù kěyǐ chūyuàn le.
  • English: You're recovering very well, you can be discharged next Monday.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence you would hear from a doctor or nurse, giving the official green light for discharge.
• Example 4:
  • 他出院以后，还需要在家休息一个月。
  • Pinyin: Tā chūyuàn yǐhòu, hái xūyào zài jiā xiūxi yí ge yuè.
  • English: After he is discharged from the hospital, he still needs to rest at home for a month.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows how `出院` can mark a point in time. The structure `…以后 (yǐhòu)` means “after…”.
• Example 5:
  • 请先去一楼付清费用，然后才能办理出院手续。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng xiān qù yī lóu fùqīng fèiyòng, ránhòu cáinéng bànlǐ chūyuàn shǒuxù.
  • English: Please first go to the first floor to pay the bill in full, then you can handle the discharge procedures.
  • Analysis: This example highlights the practical, administrative side of being discharged. It features the key collocation `办理出院手续 (bànlǐ chūyuàn shǒuxù)`.
• Example 6:
  • 听说你出院了，真是太好了！身体感觉怎么样？
  • Pinyin: Tīngshuō nǐ chūyuàn le, zhēnshi tài hǎo le! Shēntǐ gǎnjué zěnmeyàng?
  • English: I heard you were discharged, that's really great! How are you feeling?
  • Analysis: A common and warm way to express relief and care when talking to a friend who has just gotten out of the hospital.
• Example 7:
  • 出院那天，我们全家都去医院接他回家。
  • Pinyin: Chūyuàn nà tiān, wǒmen quán jiā dōu qù yīyuàn jiē tā huí jiā.
  • English: On the day of his discharge, our whole family went to the hospital to bring him home.
  • Analysis: Here, `出院` is used to modify `那天 (nà tiān - that day)`, functioning like a descriptive noun. This shows its versatility in sentence structure.
• Example 8:
  • 他上个月因为心脏病住院，上周才出院。
  • Pinyin: Tā shàng ge yuè yīnwèi xīnzàngbìng zhùyuàn, shàng zhōu cái chūyuàn.
  • English: He was hospitalized last month for heart disease and was only discharged last week.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly contrasts `住院 (zhùyuàn - to be hospitalized)` with `出院`. The word `才 (cái)` emphasizes that the discharge happened later than expected, implying a long recovery.
• Example 9:
  • 只要明天的检查结果没问题，病人就可以准备出院了。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào míngtiān de jiǎnchá jiéguǒ méi wèntí, bìngrén jiù kěyǐ zhǔnbèi chūyuàn le.
  • English: As long as tomorrow's test results are fine, the patient can prepare to be discharged.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a conditional structure: `只要…就… (zhǐyào…jiù…)`, meaning “as long as…then…”.
• Example 10:
  • 奶奶刚出院，身体还很虚弱，需要人照顾。
  • Pinyin: Nǎinai gāng chūyuàn, shēntǐ hái hěn xūruò, xūyào rén zhàogù.
  • English: Grandma was just discharged from the hospital, her body is still very weak, and she needs someone to take care of her.
  • Analysis: The adverb `刚 (gāng)` means “just now,” indicating the discharge happened very recently. This sentence emphasizes that discharge is not the end of the recovery process.

A crucial mistake for learners is confusing 出院 (chūyuàn) with the more general phrase 离开医院 (líkāi yīyuàn).

• 出院 (chūyuàn): Specifically means to be discharged after being an in-patient (admitted to the hospital). You must first be `住院 (zhùyuàn - hospitalized)` to be able to `出院`.
• 离开医院 (líkāi yīyuàn): Means “to leave the hospital building.” This applies to anyone: a visitor, a doctor finishing their shift, or a patient who just finished a quick outpatient check-up or consultation.

Example of Incorrect Usage:

• Incorrect: 我今天去看门诊，然后出院了。 (Wǒ jīntiān qù kàn ménzhěn, ránhòu chūyuàn le.)
• Why it's wrong: 看门诊 (kàn ménzhěn) means to see an outpatient clinic. You were never admitted, so you cannot be “discharged.”
• Correct: 我今天去看门诊，然后就离开医院了。 (Wǒ jīntiān qù kàn ménzhěn, ránhòu jiù líkāi yīyuàn le.) - “I went to the outpatient clinic today and then left the hospital.”

• 住院 (zhùyuàn) - The direct antonym of `出院`. It means “to be hospitalized” or “to be admitted to the hospital.”
• 医院 (yīyuàn) - The place where one is hospitalized and discharged from; “hospital.”
• 出院手续 (chūyuàn shǒuxù) - A key related phrase meaning “discharge procedures/paperwork.”
• 康复 (kāngfù) - The goal of being in the hospital; “to recover,” “to recuperate.”
• 病人 (bìngrén) - The person who is the subject of `出院`; “patient.”
• 医生 (yīshēng) - The person who authorizes the discharge; “doctor.”
• 护士 (hùshi) - The person who assists with care and the discharge process; “nurse.”
• 看病 (kànbìng) - The general term for “to see a doctor.” This does not necessarily imply being hospitalized.
• 休养 (xiūyǎng) - What you do after you `出院`; “to rest and recuperate,” “to convalesce.”
• 离开 (líkāi) - A more general verb for “to leave” a place, which can be used for a hospital but lacks the specific meaning of being a discharged patient.