hùshi: 护士 - Nurse

• Keywords: hushi, 护士, nurse in Chinese, Chinese word for nurse, male nurse in Chinese, hospital in Chinese, doctor and nurse Chinese, hushi meaning, healthcare in China.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 护士 (hùshi), the standard Chinese word for “nurse.” This guide explores its character breakdown, cultural significance in China's healthcare system, and practical usage. Learn how to address a nurse, see many example sentences for hospital situations, and understand related terms like 医生 (yīshēng) (doctor) and 医院 (yīyuàn) (hospital). This is an essential term for anyone navigating healthcare in China or learning medical-related vocabulary.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): hùshi
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A professionally trained person who cares for the sick or infirm; a nurse.
• In a Nutshell: 护士 (hùshi) is the universal and direct term for “nurse” in Mandarin Chinese. It's a professional title used in hospitals, clinics, and any healthcare setting. Much like “doctor” or “teacher,” it denotes a specific, respected profession.

• 护 (hù): This character means “to protect,” “to guard,” or “to shield.” The left side, the hand radical (扌), suggests an action done with the hands. The right side provides the sound and reinforces the idea of guarding. Think of it as using one's hands to protect someone.
• 士 (shì): This character originally depicted a standing warrior or official. It has evolved to mean a specialist, a scholar, a gentleman, or someone with a particular professional status.
• When combined, 护士 (hùshi) literally means a “protecting specialist” or a “guardian professional”—a perfect and respectful description of a nurse's role in caring for and protecting patients.

In Chinese culture, nursing is a highly respected yet incredibly demanding profession. Nurses are often affectionately and poetically called 白衣天使 (báiyī tiānshǐ), which translates to “angels in white,” highlighting the deep appreciation for their compassionate and caring nature. Compared to Western cultures, the hierarchy in Chinese hospitals can feel more pronounced. Nurses (护士, hùshi) are typically seen as working very closely under the direction of doctors (医生, yīshēng), executing their plans and orders. While nurses in the West also collaborate with doctors, the “doctor-in-charge” dynamic is often more explicit in a Chinese context. The profession was traditionally female-dominated, but this is changing, and the number of 男护士 (nán hùshi), or male nurses, is steadily increasing. The core value associated with a 护士 is one of selfless care, patience, and professional responsibility, which are virtues held in high regard in Chinese society.

护士 (hùshi) is a neutral, standard term used in all contexts, from formal medical reports to everyday conversations.

• Addressing a Nurse: It is perfectly polite and common to get a nurse's attention by saying, “护士! (Hùshi!)” in a hospital, similar to calling “Nurse!” in English. You can also add a polite particle, like “护士, 您好! (Hùshi, nín hǎo!)”.
• Gender Neutrality: The term itself is gender-neutral. However, if you need to specify, you can say 男护士 (nán hùshi) for a male nurse or 女护士 (nǚ hùshi) for a female nurse.
• Connotation: The word is neutral and professional. For a more positive and affectionate tone, especially when showing gratitude, people might use the term 白衣天使 (báiyī tiānshǐ).

• Example 1:
  • 护士，请问医生什么时候来？
  • Pinyin: Hùshi, qǐngwèn yīshēng shénme shíhou lái?
  • English: Nurse, may I ask when the doctor is coming?
  • Analysis: This is a very common and polite way to address a nurse in a hospital to ask for information.
• Example 2:
  • 我姐姐是一名护士，她在一家大医院工作。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jiějie shì yī míng hùshi, tā zài yī jiā dà yīyuàn gōngzuò.
  • English: My older sister is a nurse; she works at a big hospital.
  • Analysis: Here, 护士 (hùshi) is used to describe someone's profession. The measure word for professions like nurse or doctor is 名 (míng).
• Example 3:
  • 护士正在给病人打针。
  • Pinyin: Hùshi zhèngzài gěi bìngrén dǎzhēn.
  • English: The nurse is giving the patient an injection.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a typical action performed by a nurse. 正在 (zhèngzài) indicates the action is in progress.
• Example 4:
  • 很多人觉得当护士很辛苦。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō rén juéde dāng hùshi hěn xīnkǔ.
  • English: Many people think that being a nurse is very hard work.
  • Analysis: 当 (dāng) means “to be” or “to work as” a certain profession. 辛苦 (xīnkǔ) means “hard” or “toilsome.”
• Example 5:
  • 这位男护士非常专业和耐心。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi nán hùshi fēicháng zhuānyè hé nàixīn.
  • English: This male nurse is very professional and patient.
  • Analysis: Shows how to specify a male nurse using 男 (nán). 位 (wèi) is a polite measure word for people.
• Example 6:
  • 谢谢你，护士！你真是个白衣天使。
  • Pinyin: Xièxie nǐ, hùshi! Nǐ zhēn shì ge báiyī tiānshǐ.
  • English: Thank you, nurse! You truly are an angel in white.
  • Analysis: A great example of showing gratitude, using both the standard term and the affectionate, poetic term 白衣天使 (báiyī tiānshǐ).
• Example 7:
  • 护士帮我量了体温和血压。
  • Pinyin: Hùshi bāng wǒ liáng le tǐwēn hé xuèyā.
  • English: The nurse helped me measure my temperature and blood pressure.
  • Analysis: Describes more routine tasks of a nurse. 量 (liáng) means “to measure.”
• Example 8:
  • 我以后想成为一名护士，去照顾病人。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǐhòu xiǎng chéngwéi yī míng hùshi, qù zhàogù bìngrén.
  • English: In the future, I want to become a nurse and take care of patients.
  • Analysis: 成为 (chéngwéi) means “to become.” This sentence expresses a career aspiration.
• Example 9:
  • 如果有任何问题，就按这个铃叫护士。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ yǒu rènhé wèntí, jiù àn zhège líng jiào hùshi.
  • English: If you have any problems, just press this bell to call a nurse.
  • Analysis: Practical instruction you might hear in a hospital ward. 按 (àn) means “to press.”
• Example 10:
  • 我们的护士长经验非常丰富。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de hùshizhǎng jīngyàn fēicháng fēngfù.
  • English: Our head nurse is very experienced.
  • Analysis: Introduces the related term 护士长 (hùshizhǎng), which means “head nurse” or “charge nurse.”

• “Nurse” vs. “Attendant”: A common mistake for beginners is to confuse 护士 (hùshi) with 服务员 (fúwùyuán).
  • 护士 (hùshi) is a licensed medical professional.
  • 服务员 (fúwùyuán) means “waiter,” “attendant,” or “service person” in a non-medical context (like a restaurant or hotel).
  • Incorrect: 服务员，我头疼，需要药。(Fúwùyuán, wǒ tóuténg, xūyào yào.) - “Waiter, my head hurts, I need medicine.”
  • Correct: 护士，我头疼，需要药。(Hùshi, wǒ tóuténg, xūyào yào.) - “Nurse, my head hurts, I need medicine.”
• Gender Assumption: Do not assume a 护士 (hùshi) is female. The term is gender-neutral. While nursing has been a traditionally female role in China, this is changing rapidly. Using 护士 (hùshi) for any nurse, regardless of gender, is always correct.
• Direct Translation vs. Cultural Role: While “nurse” is a direct translation, don't assume the scope of practice and autonomy is identical to that in your home country. As mentioned, the role can be more hierarchical in China, with a stronger emphasis on carrying out a doctor's directives.

• 医生 (yīshēng) - Doctor. The professional who works alongside a nurse.
• 医院 (yīyuàn) - Hospital. The primary workplace for a nurse.
• 病人 (bìngrén) - Patient. The person a nurse cares for.
• 照顾 (zhàogù) - To take care of; to look after. A verb that describes the primary duty of a nurse.
• 打针 (dǎzhēn) - To give/get an injection. One of the most common tasks associated with a nurse.
• 吃药 (chīyào) - To take medicine. A nurse often administers medicine to patients.
• 护士长 (hùshizhǎng) - Head Nurse; Charge Nurse. The leader of a group of nurses on a ward.
• 白衣天使 (báiyī tiānshǐ) - “Angel in white.” A beautiful, respectful, and common nickname for nurses and sometimes doctors.
• 看病 (kànbìng) - To see a doctor; to seek medical treatment. This is the context in which you will meet a 护士.