shǒushù: 手术 - Surgery, Operation

• Keywords: shoushu, shǒushù, 手术, Chinese surgery, operation in Chinese, medical operation, have surgery in Chinese, zuo shoushu, dong shoushu, Chinese medical terms, HSK 4 vocabulary
• Summary: “手术 (shǒushù)” is the primary Chinese word for a medical “surgery” or “operation.” Literally meaning “hand technique,” it aptly describes the skilled manual work performed by a surgeon. This term is used in all medical contexts, from minor procedures to major life-saving operations. Understanding “手术” and how to use it with verbs like “做 (zuò)” is essential for anyone needing to navigate the healthcare system in China or discuss medical topics.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shǒushù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A medical procedure involving the incision or manipulation of the body to treat injury, disease, or deformity.
• In a Nutshell: `手术` is the standard, neutral term for what English speakers call “surgery” or an “operation.” Think of it as the go-to word you would hear in a hospital, whether from a doctor explaining a procedure or from a family member discussing a relative's health. The characters themselves—“hand” and “technique”—provide a perfect mental image: the specialized skill of a surgeon's hands at work.

• 手 (shǒu): Hand. This is one of the most basic and common characters in Chinese, representing the physical hand.
• 术 (shù): Technique, skill, art, method. This character refers to a specialized, learned skill or methodology, like in `艺术 (yìshù)` (art) or `技术 (jìshù)` (technology).

When combined, 手术 (shǒushù) literally translates to “hand technique.” This is a beautifully logical construction, as surgery is the ultimate application of a doctor's manual skill and technical knowledge to heal the body.

While `手术` itself is a modern medical term for a Western-style procedure, the cultural approach to it can differ from that in the West. In many Western cultures, particularly the US, patient autonomy is paramount. A doctor will typically present options directly to the patient, and the patient makes the final call. In China, while this is changing, family involvement in major medical decisions is often much greater and sometimes expected by the medical staff. It's not uncommon for a doctor to discuss a serious diagnosis or the need for a major `手术` with the patient's adult children or spouse before, or even instead of, the patient, especially if the patient is elderly. This practice is rooted in a combination of collectivist values (major life events are a family affair) and a traditional desire to protect the elderly or very ill from worry and stress. The family unit, not just the individual, is seen as the entity that collectively bears the burden of illness and makes the decision for a procedure like a `手术`. This can be a significant cultural difference for foreigners accustomed to a more individualistic approach to healthcare.

`手术` is a high-frequency word in any discussion about health and medicine. It is used neutrally and formally. Key Verbs to Use with 手术:

• 做手术 (zuò shǒushù) - To have/do surgery: This is the most common and versatile phrase. It can mean both “to undergo surgery” (from the patient's perspective) and “to perform surgery” (from the doctor's perspective).
• 动手术 (dòng shǒushù) - To have/do surgery: This is very similar in meaning to `做手术` and is also extremely common. `动 (dòng)` means “to move” or “to act,” so it carries a sense of “starting the action” of surgery.
• 接受手术 (jiēshòu shǒushù) - To receive/undergo surgery: This is a slightly more formal way to say you are having surgery, emphasizing the patient as the recipient of the treatment.

These phrases are the backbone of talking about surgery in Chinese.

• Example 1:
  • 医生说我爸爸需要马上做手术。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō wǒ bàba xūyào mǎshàng zuò shǒushù.
  • English: The doctor said my dad needs to have surgery immediately.
  • Analysis: This shows the most common usage: `做手术 (zuò shǒushù)` for “to have surgery.”
• Example 2:
  • 这个手术的风险高不高？
  • Pinyin: Zhège shǒushù de fēngxiǎn gāo bù gāo?
  • English: Are the risks of this surgery high?
  • Analysis: Here, `手术` is used as a noun being described by `风险 (fēngxiǎn)`, meaning “risk.”
• Example 3:
  • 王医生明天有三个手术要做。
  • Pinyin: Wáng yīshēng míngtiān yǒu sān gè shǒushù yào zuò.
  • English: Dr. Wang has three surgeries to perform tomorrow.
  • Analysis: This shows the doctor's perspective. Notice the structure: “have three surgeries to do” (`有三个手术要做`).
• Example 4:
  • 她刚做完心脏手术，正在康复中。
  • Pinyin: Tā gāng zuò wán xīnzàng shǒushù, zhèngzài kāngfù zhōng.
  • English: She just finished heart surgery and is currently recovering.
  • Analysis: This example pairs `手术` with a specific type, `心脏 (xīnzàng)` or “heart,” to form “heart surgery.”
• Example 5:
  • 这是一个很小的手术，你别太紧张。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī gè hěn xiǎo de shǒushù, nǐ bié tài jǐnzhāng.
  • English: This is a very minor operation, don't be too nervous.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how `手术` can be described with adjectives like `小 (xiǎo)` for minor or `大 (dà)` for major.
• Example 6:
  • 我外婆下个月要动一个膝盖手术。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ wàipó xià gè yuè yào dòng yī gè xīgài shǒushù.
  • English: My grandma is going to have a knee operation next month.
  • Analysis: This uses the alternative verb `动手术 (dòng shǒushù)`, which is interchangeable with `做手术` in this context.
• Example 7:
  • 手术非常成功，病人很快就能出院了。
  • Pinyin: Shǒushù fēicháng chénggōng, bìngrén hěn kuài jiù néng chūyuàn le.
  • English: The surgery was very successful, and the patient will be able to leave the hospital soon.
  • Analysis: Shows how to talk about the outcome of the `手术` using `成功 (chénggōng)` for “successful.”
• Example 8:
  • 在手术前，病人必须签署同意书。
  • Pinyin: Zài shǒushù qián, bìngrén bìxū qiānshǔ tóngyì shū.
  • English: Before the surgery, the patient must sign a consent form.
  • Analysis: `手术前 (shǒushù qián)` means “before the surgery,” a common time marker.
• Example 9:
  • 经过家人商量，他决定不接受手术治疗。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò jiārén shāngliáng, tā juédìng bù jiēshòu shǒushù zhìliáo.
  • English: After discussing with his family, he decided not to undergo surgical treatment.
  • Analysis: This uses the more formal `接受手术 (jiēshòu shǒushù)` and highlights the cultural point of family discussion (`家人商量`).
• Example 10:
  • 他的手术费用大概是多少？
  • Pinyin: Tā de shǒushù fèiyòng dàgài shì duōshǎo?
  • English: Approximately how much is his surgery fee?
  • Analysis: `手术费用 (shǒushù fèiyòng)` is a useful compound noun for “surgery cost/fee.”

• False Friend: “Operation”

The English word “operation” is broad. It can refer to a business operation, a military operation, or a mathematical operation. The Chinese word `手术` is strictly medical. Using it for non-medical contexts is a common and sometimes comical mistake.

• Correct: Military operation = `军事行动 (jūnshì xíngdòng)`
• Correct: Business operations = `运营 (yùnyíng)` or `经营 (jīngyíng)`
• Incorrect: `军队正在进行一个秘密手术。` (The army is conducting a secret surgery.)
• Why it's wrong: This sentence sounds like soldiers are secretly performing medical procedures. The correct word would be `行动 (xíngdòng)`.
• Using the Right Verb

Learners sometimes try to use `有 (yǒu)` to say “have surgery.” This is incorrect. In Chinese, you “do” (`做 zuò`) or “move/start” (`动 dòng`) a surgery.

• Incorrect: `我下周有一个手术。` (While grammatically understandable, it's unnatural. It sounds like you possess a surgery, rather than undergo it.)
• Correct: `我下周要做一个手术。` (I am going to have a surgery next week.)

• 开刀 (kāidāo) - Literally “to open with a knife.” A more colloquial and slightly more graphic term for having surgery. It's often used interchangeably with `做手术` in casual conversation.
• 外科 (wàikē) - Surgery (as a medical department). `外科医生 (wàikē yīshēng)` is a surgeon. This is the department where a `手术` is performed.
• 治疗 (zhìliáo) - Treatment. `手术` is one type of `治疗`. Others include `药物治疗 (yàowù zhìliáo)` (medication) or `物理治疗 (wùlǐ zhìliáo)` (physical therapy).
• 麻醉 (mázuì) - Anesthesia. The process of numbing a patient for a `手术`. `麻醉师 (mázuì shī)` is an anesthesiologist.
• 病人 (bìngrén) - Patient. The person who receives the `手术`.
• 康复 (kāngfù) - To recover, recuperate. The process that happens after a successful `手术`.
• 住院 (zhùyuàn) - To be hospitalized. You usually need to `住院` to have a major `手术`.
• 诊断 (zhěnduàn) - Diagnosis. The medical conclusion that often leads to the decision to perform a `手术`.