住院

• Pinyin: zhù yuàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 住 = 亻(person) + 主 (stay); 院 = 阝(mound) + 完 (complete)

Meaning

To be hospitalised; to be admitted to a hospital. To stay in a hospital for treatment.

A verb-object compound meaning 'to stay in (a) hospital.' The opposite is 出院 (to be discharged from hospital). Used when someone needs to stay overnight or longer for medical treatment, as opposed to just visiting a doctor (看病).

Examples

1. 爷爷生病了，已经住院三天了。 Grandpa is sick and has been in hospital for three days.
2. 医生说他需要住院一个星期。 The doctor said he needs to stay in hospital for a week.
3. 妈妈住院的时候，爸爸每天去看她。 When mom was in hospital, dad went to visit her every day.

Usage Guide

Context: health, family

Tone: concerned

Do Say

• 他住院了，我们去看看他吧。(He's been hospitalised — let's go visit him.)
• 住院的费用很高。(Hospital stay costs are very high.)

Don't Say

• 我住院了感冒。(Don't put 住院 before the illness — say 我因为感冒住院了 or 我感冒了，需要住院.)

Origin & History

Compound of 住 (to stay/reside) and 院 (hospital/courtyard), literally 'stay in hospital.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal