患者

• Pinyin: huàn zhě
• Hanzi breakdown: 患 = 串 (string) + 心 (heart), troubles on the mind; 者 = 老 (old) simplified, one who does something

Meaning

Patient; someone suffering from a disease. The formal medical term for a person receiving treatment.

The standard formal term in medical contexts for patients. More formal than 病人 (sick person). Common collocations: 癌症患者 (cancer patient), 糖尿病患者 (diabetes patient), 新冠患者 (COVID patient), 患者隐私 (patient privacy). Used in medical reports, news, and healthcare settings.

Examples

1. 医院规定，探视患者必须经过体温检测才能进入病房。 Hospital regulations require visitors to pass a temperature check before entering patient wards.
2. 作为一名心理咨询师，最重要的是倾听患者的心声。 As a psychological counselor, the most important thing is to listen to the patient's inner voice.
3. 这种新疗法给晚期癌症患者带来了新的希望。 This new therapy has brought new hope to late-stage cancer patients.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, healthcare, news

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 患者的情况稳定了。(The patient's condition has stabilized.)
• 我们要尊重患者的知情权。(We must respect the patient's right to be informed.)

Don't Say

• 日常对话中用患者称呼生病的朋友 (Don't call a sick friend 患者 in casual conversation — use 病人 or their name; 患者 sounds clinical)

Origin & History

Compound of 患 (suffer from, worry about) + 者 (one who). 患 combines 串 (string) + 心 (heart), suggesting worries strung together.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal