门诊

• Pinyin: mén zhěn
• Hanzi breakdown: 门 = simplified from 門, a door; 诊 = 讠(speech) + 㐱, medical examination

Meaning

Outpatient service; clinic visit. Medical consultations where patients are not hospitalized.

Refers to the outpatient department of a hospital or the act of visiting for non-emergency medical care. Patients see doctors, get prescriptions, and receive minor treatments without being admitted. Can function as a noun or verb.

Examples

1. 今天医院门诊的人特别多，排了两个小时的队。 There were especially many people at the hospital's outpatient department today; I waited in line for two hours.
2. 这位专家每周二和周四门诊。 This specialist sees outpatients on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
3. 小感冒看门诊就行，不用住院。 For a minor cold, an outpatient visit is enough; there's no need for hospitalization.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, healthcare

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 门诊在几楼？(What floor is the outpatient department on?)
• 他今天不门诊，你明天再来吧。(He's not seeing outpatients today; come back tomorrow.)

Don't Say

• 我在门诊住了三天。(门诊 is for outpatient visits — use 住院 for inpatient stays)

Origin & History

门 (mén, door/gate) + 诊 (zhěn, diagnose). Diagnosis at the door; outpatient.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal