病棟

• Reading: びょうとう
• Romaji: byoutou
• Kanji breakdown: 病 (byou) — illness, sick; 棟 (tou) — building, wing, ridge
• Pronunciation: /bʲoː.toː/

Meaning

Hospital ward; a section of a hospital where patients stay for treatment.

A noun referring to a building or floor within a hospital dedicated to inpatient care. Japanese hospitals are typically organised into numbered or named 病棟, each specialising in a particular area (e.g., 外科病棟, surgical ward; 小児病棟, paediatric ward). Common in hospital announcements, visiting instructions, and medical dramas.

Examples

1. 祖父は3階の病棟に入院している。 My grandfather is hospitalized on the third-floor ward.
2. この病棟は面会時間が決まっています。 This ward has set visiting hours.
3. 新しい病棟が来年完成する予定だ。 The new ward is scheduled to be completed next year.

Usage Guide

Context: hospitals, medical, visiting

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 病 (byou, illness/sick) + 棟 (tou, building/wing). Literally 'illness building' — the part of a hospital where patients reside.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal