bìngrén: 病人 - Patient, Sick Person

• Keywords: bingren, bìngrén, 病人, patient in Chinese, sick person in Chinese, how to say patient in Mandarin, Chinese word for patient, bingren meaning, 病人 meaning, hospital, doctor, 生病, 医生, 医院
• Summary: Learn how to say “patient” in Chinese with the word 病人 (bìngrén). This entry breaks down the simple logic behind the characters 病 (illness) and 人 (person). Discover the cultural context of being a patient in China, including the important role of family, and understand how to use this essential HSK 2 vocabulary word correctly in everyday conversation. Avoid common mistakes by learning the difference between 病人 (bìngrén) and 生病 (shēng bìng) with clear examples.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bìngrén
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A person who is ill or receiving medical treatment.
• In a Nutshell: 病人 (bìngrén) is the most common and direct word for “patient” or “sick person” in Mandarin Chinese. It's a neutral, descriptive term used in hospitals, clinics, and everyday life. Think of it as a straightforward label combining “sickness” and “person” – a “sickness-person.” It's less clinical than the English “patient” and more descriptive, like saying “the ill person.”

• 病 (bìng): This character means “sickness,” “illness,” or “disease.” The radical on the outside, 疒, is known as the “sickness radical” and is found in many characters related to health problems (e.g., 疼 - téng, pain; 瘦 - shòu, thin).
• 人 (rén): This is one of the simplest and most common characters, meaning “person” or “people.” It's a pictogram of a person walking.
• Combined Meaning: The logic is beautifully simple. When you combine 病 (bìng - sickness) and 人 (rén - person), you get 病人 (bìngrén) — literally a “sickness person,” which is the perfect description for a patient.

While 病人 (bìngrén) is a straightforward term, the experience of being a patient in China has unique cultural dimensions. In the West, patient care is highly institutionalized, and family members are typically seen as “visitors.” In China, family plays a much more central and hands-on role. It is extremely common for family members (家属 - jiāshǔ) to stay with the 病人 in the hospital 24/7. They often provide meals, help with bathing, and offer constant emotional support. This is rooted in Confucian values of filial piety and the collective responsibility of the family unit. Therefore, being a 病人 in China doesn't mean being isolated. Instead, it often places you at the center of intense family care and attention. The act of “taking care of” (照顾 - zhàogù) a sick relative is a profound expression of love and duty. This contrasts with the Western emphasis on patient autonomy and professionalized care. The Chinese approach sees the patient and their family as an inseparable unit in the healing process.

病人 (bìngrén) is a standard, neutral term used across all levels of society.

• In Hospitals and Clinics: This is the default term used by doctors (医生 - yīshēng), nurses (护士 - hùshi), and staff to refer to patients.
• In Everyday Conversation: People use it to talk about friends, family members, or anyone who is sick. For example, “My neighbor is a 病人 at the moment, so I'm helping walk his dog.”
• Connotation: The word is neutral and factual. While the situation of being a 病人 evokes sympathy, the word itself is just a label. It doesn't carry any inherent stigma or negative judgment.
• Formality: It is appropriate in both formal (medical reports, news) and informal (daily chat) contexts. A more formal, technical term is 患者 (huànzhě), which is closer to “sufferer” or “case” and is often used in medical literature.

• Example 1:
  • 医生在检查病人的身体。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng zài jiǎnchá bìngrén de shēntǐ.
  • English: The doctor is examining the patient's body.
  • Analysis: A very common and direct sentence you would hear in a hospital setting.
• Example 2:
  • 我不是医生，我只是一个病人。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bú shì yīshēng, wǒ zhǐ shì yí ge bìngrén.
  • English: I'm not a doctor, I'm just a patient.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 病人 to define a role or identity in a specific context.
• Example 3:
  • 病人需要多休息，少说话。
  • Pinyin: Bìngrén xūyào duō xiūxi, shǎo shuōhuà.
  • English: Patients need to rest more and talk less.
  • Analysis: Here, 病人 is used as a general category of people, giving general advice.
• Example 4:
  • 护士正在照顾那位病人。
  • Pinyin: Hùshi zhèngzài zhàogù nà wèi bìngrén.
  • English: The nurse is taking care of that patient.
  • Analysis: Note the use of the polite measure word 位 (wèi) for people, showing respect for the patient.
• Example 5:
  • 作为病人，你必须按时吃药。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi bìngrén, nǐ bìxū ànshí chī yào.
  • English: As a patient, you must take your medicine on time.
  • Analysis: 作为 (zuòwéi) means “as a…” and is used here to state a responsibility that comes with the role of being a patient.
• Example 6:
  • 这家医院有很多病人。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā yīyuàn yǒu hěn duō bìngrén.
  • English: This hospital has a lot of patients.
  • Analysis: A simple sentence describing the quantity of patients.
• Example 7:
  • 他的家人每天都来探望病人。
  • Pinyin: Tā de jiārén měi tiān dōu lái tànwàng bìngrén.
  • English: His family members come to visit the patient every day.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the cultural importance of family visits (探望 - tànwàng) for a patient.
• Example 8:
  • 请问，三号床的病人叫什么名字？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, sān hào chuáng de bìngrén jiào shénme míngzi?
  • English: Excuse me, what is the name of the patient in bed number three?
  • Analysis: Demonstrates a practical question used in a hospital ward.
• Example 9:
  • 一个健康的社会应该关心病人的权利。
  • Pinyin: Yí ge jiànkāng de shèhuì yīnggāi guānxīn bìngrén de quánlì.
  • English: A healthy society should care about patients' rights.
  • Analysis: This shows the word used in a more abstract, sociological context.
• Example 10:
  • 这个病人的病情很稳定。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge bìngrén de bìngqíng hěn wěndìng.
  • English: This patient's condition is very stable.
  • Analysis: 病情 (bìngqíng) means “medical condition.” This is a common phrase used by medical staff.

The most common mistake for beginners is confusing the noun 病人 (bìngrén) with the verb phrase 生病 (shēng bìng).

• 病人 (bìngrén) is a noun. It is a person.
• 生病 (shēng bìng) is a verb phrase. It is an action or state. It means “to get sick” or “to be sick.”

Think of it like “patient” (noun) vs. “to be ill” (verb phrase) in English. Incorrect Usage:

• 我病人了。(Wǒ bìngrén le.)
• Why it's wrong: This literally translates to “I patient-ed.” It uses a noun as if it were a verb.

Correct Usage:

• 我生病了。(Wǒ shēng bìng le.)
  • English: I'm sick. / I got sick.
• 我是一个病人。(Wǒ shì yí ge bìngrén.)
  • English: I am a patient.

Remember: If you are describing the state of being sick, use 生病 (shēng bìng). If you are referring to the person who is sick, use 病人 (bìngrén).

• 生病 (shēng bìng) - The verb phrase “to get sick.” This describes the state that makes someone a 病人.
• 医生 (yīshēng) - Doctor. The professional who treats a 病人.
• 护士 (hùshi) - Nurse. The professional who cares for a 病人.
• 医院 (yīyuàn) - Hospital. The primary place where a 病人 receives treatment.
• 看病 (kàn bìng) - “To see a doctor” (literally “to see a sickness”). This is the action a 病人 takes to get help.
• 吃药 (chī yào) - “To take medicine” (literally “to eat medicine”). A common instruction for a 病人.
• 患者 (huànzhě) - Patient, sufferer. A more formal and technical synonym for 病人, often used in medical texts and formal reports. The 者 (zhě) suffix denotes a person of a certain type, similar to “-er” in English.
• 家属 (jiāshǔ) - Family members. Culturally, the key support system for a 病人 in China.