Chinese word

病人

Pronunciation

Pinyinbìng rén

Meaning

  • nounpatient

Example

医院里有很多病人。yī yuàn lǐ yǒu hěn duō bìng rén

There are many patients in the hospital.

Illustration for 病人 (patient)

More examples

医生正在照顾病人。yī shēng zhèng zài zhào gù bìng rén

The doctor is taking care of a patient.

Core concept

A person whose illness brings them into medical care, treatment, or recovery.

Common phrases

  • 看病人kàn bìng rén

    take care of a patient

  • 很多病人hěn duō bìng rén

    many patients

  • 去看病人qù kàn bìng rén

    go see a patient

Similar words

患者huàn zhě: A person who is ill and receives treatment or nursing care.

Definition in Chinese

患病的人；常指在医院、诊所或家庭中需要治疗或护理且处于就医或康复过程中的个体。huàn bìng de rén cháng zhǐ zài yī yuàn zhén suǒ huò jiā tíng zhōng xū yào zhì liáo huò hù lǐ qiě chǔ yú jiù yī huò kāng fù guò chéng zhōng de gè tǐ

Word origin

病人 (bìngrén, "patient") is formed from 病 (bìng, "illness") + 人 (rén, "person"), directly naming a person affected by illness.

Usage tips

  • The English word patient also means calm, but its Chinese noun use refers to a person who is ill or receiving care, not to a calm person.

Word lists with this word