chūyuàn: 出院 - To Be Discharged From the Hospital

• Keywords: 出院, chu yuan, chuyuan, leave hospital Chinese, discharged from hospital Chinese, Chinese medical terms, hospitalization in China, getting out of hospital in China, Chinese for doctor, HSUK 3 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to use the essential Chinese term 出院 (chūyuàn), which means “to be discharged from the hospital.” This page provides a complete guide for beginners, breaking down the characters, cultural context, and practical usage. With over 10 example sentences and analysis, you'll understand how to discuss hospitalization, recovery, and the formal process of leaving a hospital in China, a crucial vocabulary word for anyone living or traveling in a Mandarin-speaking environment.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chū yuàn
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object (can function as a single verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To be discharged from a hospital after a period of inpatient treatment.
• In a Nutshell: 出院 (chūyuàn) is the specific, official term for when a patient is formally released from a hospital. It’s not just about physically “leaving the hospital” (like a visitor would); it implies that medical treatment is complete, the doctor has given approval, and all necessary paperwork has been filed. It marks the end of a hospital stay and is generally seen as very positive news.

• 出 (chū): This character means “to go out,” “to exit,” or “to leave.” Picture a plant sprouting up and out of the ground (凵). It signifies emergence and departure.
• 院 (yuàn): This character means a “courtyard” or “institution.” It's used in words for places that are often large, enclosed compounds, like a hospital (医院 - yīyuàn), a school (学院 - xuéyuàn), or a court (法院 - fǎyuàn).
• Together, 出院 (chūyuàn) literally translates to “to exit the institution/hospital,” a very direct and logical combination that perfectly captures its meaning.

In China, hospitalization and discharge are significant family affairs. While in the West, a patient might handle their own discharge paperwork, in China, it's very common for family members to take the lead. They will be the ones to `办出院手续 (bàn chūyuàn shǒuxù)`—handle the discharge procedures—which includes settling the final bill, collecting medication, and getting official documents from the doctor. The act of 出院 (chūyuàn) is a moment of celebration and relief for the entire family. It's not uncommon for the family to prepare a special meal for the patient upon their return home. This meal often includes nutritious, “restorative” foods believed to aid in final recovery and symbolizes a return to health and normal life. This contrasts with the more individualistic approach often seen in the West, highlighting the central role of the family unit in Chinese healthcare and social life. Being discharged isn't just a medical event; it's a communal one.

出院 (chūyuàn) is a high-frequency word used in both formal and informal contexts.

• In Conversation: You'll hear it used among friends and family when discussing someone's health status. “When is your grandfather getting discharged?” (你爷爷什么时候出院？- Nǐ yéye shénme shíhòu chūyuàn?).
• In a Medical Context: This is the official term used by doctors, nurses, and hospital administration. The most important related phrase is 办理出院手续 (bànlǐ chūyuàn shǒuxù), which means “to handle the discharge procedures.” If you are ever hospitalized in China, you will definitely encounter this phrase.
• Connotation: The connotation is almost always neutral to positive. Being able to 出院 means a patient is recovering well, which is good news. The only negative context is when someone cannot be discharged (还不能出院 - hái bù néng chūyuàn).

• Example 1:
  • 医生说我明天就可以出院了。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō wǒ míngtiān jiù kěyǐ chūyuàn le.
  • English: The doctor said I can be discharged tomorrow.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical sentence. The particle `了 (le)` indicates a change of state—the situation has changed to one where discharge is now possible.
• Example 2:
  • 他什么时候能出院？
  • Pinyin: Tā shénme shíhòu néng chūyuàn?
  • English: When can he be discharged from the hospital?
  • Analysis: A simple question using the modal verb `能 (néng)` to ask about the possibility or ability to be discharged.
• Example 3:
  • 奶奶上周五出院了，现在在家休息。
  • Pinyin: Nǎinai shàng zhōuwǔ chūyuàn le, xiànzài zài jiā xiūxi.
  • English: Grandma was discharged last Friday and is now resting at home.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows how 出院 is used to narrate past events, connecting the discharge to the current situation (resting at home).
• Example 4:
  • 我得去医院帮我爸爸办出院手续。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ děi qù yīyuàn bāng wǒ bàba bàn chūyuàn shǒuxù.
  • English: I have to go to the hospital to help my dad with the discharge procedures.
  • Analysis: This highlights the cultural point about family involvement. `办出院手续 (bàn chūyuàn shǒuxù)` is a key set phrase to remember.
• Example 5:
  • 恭喜你终于可以出院了！
  • Pinyin: Gōngxǐ nǐ zhōngyú kěyǐ chūyuàn le!
  • English: Congratulations on finally being able to leave the hospital!
  • Analysis: Shows the positive, celebratory nature of the event. `终于 (zhōngyú)` means “finally,” emphasizing the long-awaited nature of the discharge.
• Example 6:
  • 他病得很重，暂时还不能出院。
  • Pinyin: Tā bìng de hěn zhòng, zànshí hái bù néng chūyuàn.
  • English: He is very sick and cannot be discharged for the time being.
  • Analysis: An example of the negative form, `不能出院 (bù néng chūyuàn)`, meaning “cannot be discharged.” `暂时 (zànshí)` means “temporarily.”
• Example 7:
  • 出院以后，你也要注意多休息。
  • Pinyin: Chūyuàn yǐhòu, nǐ yě yào zhùyì duō xiūxi.
  • English: After you are discharged from the hospital, you also need to pay attention to getting more rest.
  • Analysis: This shows 出院 being used to mark a point in time, followed by `以后 (yǐhòu)`, meaning “after.”
• Example 8:
  • 你出院的时候，我来接你吧。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ chūyuàn de shíhòu, wǒ lái jiē nǐ ba.
  • English: When you get discharged, I'll come pick you up.
  • Analysis: A friendly, conversational offer. `…的时候 (…de shíhòu)` is a common structure for “when…”
• Example 9:
  • 所有的检查结果都正常，他下午就出院了。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de jiǎnchá jiéguǒ dōu zhèngcháng, tā xiàwǔ jiù chūyuàn le.
  • English: All the test results were normal, so he was discharged in the afternoon.
  • Analysis: This sentence provides the reason for the discharge, showing a cause-and-effect relationship.
• Example 10:
  • 别担心，出院通知书医生已经签好字了。
  • Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, chūyuàn tōngzhīshū yīshēng yǐjīng qiān hǎo zì le.
  • English: Don't worry, the doctor has already signed the discharge notice.
  • Analysis: Introduces a related noun, `出院通知书 (chūyuàn tōngzhīshū)`, the “discharge notice,” which is part of the formal process.

• Mistake: Confusing `出院 (chūyuàn)` vs. `离开医院 (líkāi yīyuàn)`
  • This is the most common mistake for learners.
  • 出院 (chūyuàn) specifically means “to be discharged” as a patient after treatment. It's a formal medical process.
  • 离开医院 (líkāi yīyuàn) simply means “to leave the hospital building.” A visitor, a doctor finishing their shift, or a patient stepping out for fresh air are all `离开医院`. Only the patient completing their stay is `出院`.
  • `*` Incorrect: 我昨天去看朋友，下午五点出院了。 (Wǒ zuótiān qù kàn péngyou, xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn chūyuàn le.) - This incorrectly implies the visitor was discharged.
  • `*` Correct: 我昨天去看朋友，下午五点离开医院了。 (Wǒ zuótiān qù kàn péngyou, xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn líkāi yīyuàn le.) - Correctly states that the visitor left the hospital.
• Nuance: It's a Process, Not Just an Action
  • Remember that 出院 implies more than just walking out the door. It includes the official approval from the doctor and the completion of paperwork (`办手续`). You can't just decide to `出院` on your own.

• `住院 (zhùyuàn)` - The direct antonym: to be hospitalized, to be admitted to the hospital.
• `医院 (yīyuàn)` - The place where one is hospitalized and discharged from: a hospital.
• `看病 (kànbìng)` - “To see a doctor.” This is often the first step that leads to `住院`.
• `手续 (shǒuxù)` - Procedures, formalities, paperwork. Frequently paired as `出院手续`.
• `康复 (kāngfù)` - To recover, to rehabilitate. This is the goal of hospitalization and the state a patient is in when they can `出院`.
• `医生 (yīshēng)` - Doctor. The person who gives the approval for discharge.
• `病人 (bìngrén)` - Patient. The person who is the subject of `出院`.
• `出差 (chūchāi)` - To go on a business trip. A good example of the `出 + Noun` structure.
• `出国 (chūguó)` - To go abroad. Another `出 + Noun` structure, literally “to exit the country.”
• `离开 (líkāi)` - To leave, to depart from. The more general term for leaving a place, which helps distinguish the specific meaning of `出院`.