就诊

• Pinyin: jiù zhěn
• Hanzi breakdown: 就 = 京 (tall place) + 尤 (phonetic) — to attend, to go to; 诊 = 讠(speech) + 㐱 (phonetic) — diagnosis, consultation

Meaning

To see a doctor; to register for and attend a medical consultation.

More specific than 就医 — 就诊 refers to the act of presenting at a clinic or hospital and going through the consultation process (registering, waiting, seeing the doctor). Common in hospital notices, medical system discussions, and news reports about healthcare. Frequently collocates with 预约 (appointment), 挂号 (registration), 等待时间 (waiting time), and 科室 (department).

Examples

1. 网上预约挂号系统大幅缩短了患者就诊的等待时间，就医体验明显改善。 The online appointment and registration system has significantly reduced patient waiting times, and the overall consultation experience has noticeably improved.
2. 医生提醒，慢性病患者应按时就诊，不要等到症状加重才来复查。 Doctors remind patients with chronic conditions to attend consultations on schedule and not wait until symptoms worsen before coming in for a check-up.
3. 她带着三岁的儿子去儿科就诊，经检查确认是普通感冒，没有大碍。 She took her three-year-old son to the paediatrics department; after examination, it was confirmed to be a common cold — nothing serious.

Usage Guide

Context: healthcare, hospital, medical consultation, public health

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请提前预约，按时就诊，以免耽误您的时间。(Please book an appointment in advance and arrive on time for your consultation, so as not to waste your time.)
• 该医院推出了线上就诊服务，患者可以通过视频问诊获得初步诊断。(The hospital has launched an online consultation service, allowing patients to receive a preliminary diagnosis via video appointment.)

Don't Say

• 我去就诊了一个买药的问题。(就诊 specifically refers to a medical consultation with a doctor — for buying medicine only, use 去药店买药 or 拿药)

Origin & History

就 (to go to, to attend) + 诊 (diagnosis, consultation). Together: to go for a diagnosis; to present oneself at a clinic for medical consultation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal