照料

• Pinyin: zhào liào
• Hanzi breakdown: 照 = 日 + 召 + 灬 (to attend to); 料 = 米 + 斗 (to manage/material)

Meaning

To take care of; to look after; to attend to someone or something.

Implies attentive care over a period of time. Used for caring for people (especially the elderly, sick, or children), animals, or plants. More formal than 照顾 and emphasizes responsibility.

Examples

1. 退休后她专心在家照料年迈的父母。 After retiring, she devoted herself to caring for her elderly parents at home.
2. 护士日夜照料病人，尽职尽责。 The nurses cared for the patients day and night, conscientious and responsible.
3. 他请了专人照料家中的花园和宠物。 He hired someone to take care of the garden and pets at home.

Usage Guide

Context: caregiving, healthcare, family

Tone: caring

Do Say

• 医院安排了专门的护理人员照料重症患者。(The hospital arranged specialized nursing staff to take care of critically ill patients.)
• 她悉心照料这些孤儿，把他们视如己出。(She attentively cared for these orphans, treating them as her own.)

Don't Say

• 照料工作 for care work — use 护理工作 or 照护工作 instead

Origin & History

照 (to attend to) + 料 (to manage/handle)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal