zhùyuàn: 住院 - To be hospitalized, to stay in a hospital

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese medical term 住院 (zhùyuàn), which means “to be hospitalized” or “to stay in a hospital.” This page breaks down the characters 住 (to stay) and 院 (institution), explores the cultural significance of hospitalization in China where family involvement is key, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Understand the crucial difference between just going to the hospital (去医院) and being admitted as an inpatient (住院) to avoid common mistakes and navigate healthcare situations in China with confidence.

• 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; to be hospitalized.
• In a Nutshell: 住院 (zhùyuàn) is not just about visiting a hospital; it specifically means you are being checked in to stay overnight or for a longer period. It implies a medical condition serious enough to require constant monitoring or intensive treatment, distinguishing it from a simple outpatient visit (门诊, ménzhěn). Think of it as the official transition from visitor to resident patient.

• 住 (zhù): This character means “to live,” “to stay,” or “to reside.” It's composed of the person radical (亻) on the left and 主 (zhǔ), meaning “master” or “main,” on the right. You can imagine a person (亻) staying in the main (主) part of a house.
• 院 (yuàn): This character means “courtyard,” “institution,” or “hospital.” The “ear” radical on the left (阝) is a variant of 阜, which means “mound” or “dam,” often referring to enclosures or walls. The right side, 完 (wán), means “complete.” Together, they suggest a large, complete, walled-in space, which aptly describes a courtyard, a school (学院), a court (法院), or in this case, a hospital (医院).

The two characters combine literally and logically to mean “to stay in an institution,” which in a medical context, is to be hospitalized.

In Chinese culture, hospitalization is often a significant family event that highlights collectivist values. Unlike in many Western cultures where patient care is almost exclusively handled by hospital staff, in China, family involvement is intense and expected.

• Family as Caregivers: It's extremely common for family members—spouses, children, or even siblings—to stay with the patient around the clock. They often sleep on a rented cot or a simple mat next to the patient's bed. Their role is not just to provide emotional support but also to help with daily tasks like buying meals, helping the patient wash, and liaising with doctors and nurses. This is seen as a fundamental expression of 孝顺 (xiàoshùn), or filial piety, when children care for their ailing parents.
• Contrast with the West: An American might find this level of family presence surprising. In the U.S., while family visits are encouraged, the primary caregiving is left to the professional nursing staff, and overnight stays by family are less common and more regulated. In China, the family is an integral part of the care team. This can sometimes be a necessity due to high patient-to-nurse ratios in public hospitals.
• Navigating the System: The process of being admitted (办理住院手续, bànlǐ zhùyuàn shǒuxù) can be a bureaucratic process that a family member often helps navigate. Having personal connections, or 关系 (guānxi), within the hospital is also considered highly beneficial for ensuring attentive care.

住院 (zhùyuàn) is a standard, neutral term used in any conversation about being admitted to a hospital. It's used for everything from recovering from a major surgery to giving birth or treating a severe illness. You'll hear it in contexts like:

• A doctor informing a patient of the need for admission.
• Family members discussing a relative's condition.
• Someone explaining their absence from work or school.

The term itself is factual, but the situation it describes is inherently serious and often stressful. The opposite action, being discharged from the hospital, is 出院 (chūyuàn).

• Example 1:
  • 爷爷生病了，需要住院治疗。
  • Pinyin: Yéye shēngbìng le, xūyào zhùyuàn zhìliáo.
  • English: Grandpa is sick and needs to be hospitalized for treatment.
  • Analysis: A straightforward sentence stating the need for hospitalization. 治疗 (zhìliáo) means “treatment.”
• Example 2:
  • 医生说我明天就得住院。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō wǒ míngtiān jiù děi zhùyuàn.
  • English: The doctor said I have to be hospitalized tomorrow.
  • Analysis: This shows how a decision to hospitalize is communicated. Note the use of 得 (děi), meaning “must” or “have to.”
• Example 3:
  • 她因为车祸住院了两个星期。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi chēhuò zhùyuàn le liǎng ge xīngqī.
  • English: She was hospitalized for two weeks because of a car accident.
  • Analysis: This example shows how to specify the duration of the hospital stay.
• Example 4:
  • 你需要住院多久？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào zhùyuàn duō jiǔ?
  • English: How long do you need to be hospitalized?
  • Analysis: A common and practical question to ask someone who is being admitted.
• 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 introduces the practical phrase 办理住院手续 (bànlǐ zhùyuàn shǒuxù), which means “to complete the admission paperwork.”
• Example 6:
  • 我妈妈住院了，我得去医院照顾她。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ māma zhùyuàn le, wǒ děi qù yīyuàn zhàogù tā.
  • English: My mom was hospitalized, so I have to go to the hospital to take care of her.
  • Analysis: This perfectly illustrates the cultural expectation of family members providing care (照顾, zhàogù) during hospitalization.
• Example 7:
  • 他下周要做手术，所以要提前住院。
  • Pinyin: Tā xià zhōu yào zuò shǒushù, suǒyǐ yào tíqián zhùyuàn.
  • English: He is having surgery next week, so he needs to be hospitalized in advance.
  • Analysis: Shows a common reason for hospitalization: preparing for a 手术 (shǒushù), or surgery.
• Example 8:
  • 住院费用很高，幸好我有保险。
  • Pinyin: Zhùyuàn fèiyòng hěn gāo, xìnghǎo wǒ yǒu bǎoxiǎn.
  • English: The hospitalization costs are very high; luckily I have insurance.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence discussing the financial aspect. 费用 (fèiyòng) is “cost/expense” and 保险 (bǎoxiǎn) is “insurance.”
• Example 9:
  • 他恢复得很好，医生说他下周就可以出院了。
  • Pinyin: Tā huīfù de hěn hǎo, yīshēng shuō tā xià zhōu jiù kěyǐ chūyuàn le.
  • English: He's recovering very well; the doctor says he can be discharged next week.
  • Analysis: While this sentence doesn't use 住院, it uses its direct antonym, 出院 (chūyuàn - to be discharged), showing the full cycle of a hospital stay.
• Example 10:
  • 我只是个小感冒，不用住院吧？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐshì ge xiǎo gǎnmào, bú yòng zhùyuàn ba?
  • English: I just have a small cold, I don't need to be hospitalized, right?
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a common-sense distinction. The particle 吧 (ba) is used here to seek confirmation, softening the tone.

The most critical mistake for learners is confusing 住院 (zhùyuàn) with 去医院 (qù yīyuàn).

• 去医院 (qù yīyuàn): To go to the hospital. This refers to the simple act of traveling to the hospital building. You might go there for a routine check-up, to visit someone, to see a doctor for a minor issue, or for an emergency. It does not imply you are being admitted.
• 住院 (zhùyuàn): To be admitted to the hospital. This is the specific action of being checked in as an inpatient to stay overnight or longer.

Example of incorrect usage:

• Incorrect: 我头疼，所以我昨天住院了。 (Wǒ tóuténg, suǒyǐ wǒ zuótiān zhùyuàn le.)
• Why it's wrong: A simple headache (头疼) is almost never a reason for hospitalization. It sounds overly dramatic.
• Correct: 我头疼，所以我昨天去医院看了医生。(Wǒ tóuténg, suǒyǐ wǒ zuótiān qù yīyuàn kàn le yīshēng.) → “I had a headache, so I went to the hospital to see a doctor yesterday.”

Think of it this way: You first 去医院 (qù yīyuàn) to 看病 (kànbìng). If the problem is serious, the doctor will tell you that you need to 住院 (zhùyuàn).

• 出院 (chūyuàn) - To be discharged from the hospital. The direct antonym of 住院.
• 医院 (yīyuàn) - Hospital. The place where one is hospitalized.
• 看病 (kànbìng) - To see a doctor; to seek medical advice. The action that often precedes a decision to hospitalize.
• 门诊 (ménzhěn) - Outpatient service/clinic. This is the alternative to being hospitalized; you see a doctor and go home the same day.
• 病人 (bìngrén) - A patient; a sick person. The person who is hospitalized.
• 病房 (bìngfáng) - A hospital ward or room. The specific room a patient stays in.
• 医生 (yīshēng) - Doctor. The professional who decides if you need to 住院.
• 护士 (hùshi) - Nurse. The professional who provides care during your hospital stay.
• 手术 (shǒushù) - Surgery; operation. A very common reason for being hospitalized.
• 探病 (tànbìng) - To visit a sick person (in a hospital or at home). The action friends and family take when someone is 住院.