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| 出院 [2025/08/04 01:41] – created xiaoer | 出院 [2025/08/04 01:42] (current) – xiaoer |
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| ====== chūyuàn: 出院 - To Be Discharged from the Hospital ====== | ====== chūyuàn: 出院 - To Be Discharged From the Hospital ====== |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | ===== Quick Summary ===== |
| * **Keywords:** chūyuàn, 出院, discharge from hospital Chinese, leave hospital Chinese, getting out of the hospital in China, Chinese medical terms, hospitalized in Chinese, 住院, 出院手续 | * **Keywords:** 出院, chu yuan, chuyuan, leave hospital Chinese, discharged from hospital Chinese, Chinese medical terms, hospitalization in China, getting out of hospital in China, Chinese for doctor, HSUK 3 vocabulary. |
| * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese term **出院 (chūyuàn)**, meaning "to be discharged from the hospital." This comprehensive guide explores its literal meaning ("exit the institution"), its opposite "住院 (zhùyuàn - to be hospitalized)," and the cultural context of family involvement in Chinese healthcare. Discover practical example sentences for talking with doctors, family, and handling discharge procedures (出院手续), making it a vital resource for anyone navigating health matters in China. | * **Summary:** Learn how to use the essential Chinese term **出院 (chūyuàn)**, which means "to be discharged from the hospital." This page provides a complete guide for beginners, breaking down the characters, cultural context, and practical usage. With over 10 example sentences and analysis, you'll understand how to discuss hospitalization, recovery, and the formal process of leaving a hospital in China, a crucial vocabulary word for anyone living or traveling in a Mandarin-speaking environment. |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | ===== Core Meaning ===== |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** chū yuàn | * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** chū yuàn |
| * **Part of Speech:** Verb-Object Phrase (functions as a verb) | * **Part of Speech:** Verb-Object (can function as a single verb) |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 | * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 |
| * **Concise Definition:** To be discharged from a hospital after a period of in-patient treatment. | * **Concise Definition:** To be discharged from a hospital after a period of inpatient treatment. |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **出院 (chūyuàn)** is the standard and direct term for leaving the hospital after being officially admitted as a patient. It marks the formal end of a hospital stay and the beginning of recovery at home. It's a compound of **出 (chū)**, meaning 'to exit', and **院 (yuàn)**, which is shorthand for 'hospital' (医院, yīyuàn). Think of it as "checking out" of the hospital. | * **In a Nutshell:** **出院 (chūyuàn)** is the specific, official term for when a patient is formally released from a hospital. It’s not just about physically "leaving the hospital" (like a visitor would); it implies that medical treatment is complete, the doctor has given approval, and all necessary paperwork has been filed. It marks the end of a hospital stay and is generally seen as very positive news. |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | ===== Character Breakdown ===== |
| * **出 (chū):** This character means "to go out," "to exit," or "to emerge." Pictorially, it can be imagined as a plant sprouting up and out from the ground (represented by the character 山 in ancient forms). | * **出 (chū):** This character means "to go out," "to exit," or "to leave." Picture a plant sprouting up and out of the ground (凵). It signifies emergence and departure. |
| * **院 (yuàn):** This character means "courtyard," "compound," or "institution." It's used in words for places like a hospital (医院 yīyuàn), a courthouse (法院 fǎyuàn), or a movie theater (电影院 diànyǐngyuàn). In the word 出院, it specifically refers to the hospital. | * **院 (yuàn):** This character means a "courtyard" or "institution." It's used in words for places that are often large, enclosed compounds, like a hospital (医院 - yīyuàn), a school (学院 - xuéyuàn), or a court (法院 - fǎyuàn). |
| When combined, **出院 (chūyuàn)** literally means "to exit the institution," which in a medical context is understood precisely as being discharged from the hospital. | * Together, **出院 (chūyuàn)** literally translates to "to exit the institution/hospital," a very direct and logical combination that perfectly captures its meaning. |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== |
| Being able to **出院 (chūyuàn)** is a significant and happy event in Chinese culture, signifying recovery and a return to normalcy. It is a moment of great relief not just for the patient, but for the entire family. | In China, hospitalization and discharge are significant family affairs. While in the West, a patient might handle their own discharge paperwork, in China, it's very common for family members to take the lead. They will be the ones to `办出院手续 (bàn chūyuàn shǒuxù)`—handle the discharge procedures—which includes settling the final bill, collecting medication, and getting official documents from the doctor. |
| A key difference from much of Western culture is the degree of family involvement. In China, it's very common for family members to stay with the patient around the clock, providing supplementary care, bringing food, and liaising with doctors. Therefore, the discharge is a collective milestone. The family has weathered the crisis together, and the act of leaving the hospital is a shared victory. This reflects the strong value of filial piety (孝顺 xiàoshùn) and the collective nature of the family unit in handling major life events like illness. The process isn't just a patient being released; it's a family bringing a loved one home. | The act of **出院 (chūyuàn)** is a moment of celebration and relief for the entire family. It's not uncommon for the family to prepare a special meal for the patient upon their return home. This meal often includes nutritious, "restorative" foods believed to aid in final recovery and symbolizes a return to health and normal life. This contrasts with the more individualistic approach often seen in the West, highlighting the central role of the family unit in Chinese healthcare and social life. Being discharged isn't just a medical event; it's a communal one. |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== |
| **出院 (chūyuàn)** is a common, everyday term used in both formal and informal contexts related to healthcare. | **出院 (chūyuàn)** is a high-frequency word used in both formal and informal contexts. |
| * **In Conversation:** People use it to ask about a patient's status ("When can she be discharged?"), to share good news ("Grandma is being discharged tomorrow!"), or to describe a past illness ("I was in the hospital for a week and was discharged last Friday."). | * **In Conversation:** You'll hear it used among friends and family when discussing someone's health status. "When is your grandfather getting discharged?" (你爷爷什么时候出院？- Nǐ yéye shénme shíhòu chūyuàn?). |
| * **At the Hospital:** This is a key procedural term. You will hear it from doctors and nurses when they confirm you are well enough to leave. A crucial related phrase is **办理出院手续 (bànlǐ chūyuàn shǒuxù)**, which means "to handle the discharge procedures," including paying the final bill and collecting medication. | * **In a Medical Context:** This is the official term used by doctors, nurses, and hospital administration. The most important related phrase is **办理出院手续 (bànlǐ chūyuàn shǒuxù)**, which means "to handle the discharge procedures." If you are ever hospitalized in China, you will definitely encounter this phrase. |
| * **Connotation:** The term is almost always positive, associated with relief, recovery, and happiness. In a purely administrative context, it's neutral. | * **Connotation:** The connotation is almost always neutral to positive. Being able to **出院** means a patient is recovering well, which is good news. The only negative context is when someone //cannot// be discharged (还不能出院 - hái bù néng chūyuàn). |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | ===== Example Sentences ===== |
| * **Example 1:** | * **Example 1:** |
| * 医生，我什么时候可以**出院**？ | * 医生说我明天就可以**出院**了。 |
| * Pinyin: Yīshēng, wǒ shénme shíhòu kěyǐ **chūyuàn**? | * Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō wǒ míngtiān jiù kěyǐ **chūyuàn** le. |
| * English: Doctor, when can I be discharged from the hospital? | * English: The doctor said I can be discharged tomorrow. |
| * Analysis: This is a very common and direct question a patient would ask their doctor. It's a textbook example of how to use the term. | * Analysis: A very common and practical sentence. The particle `了 (le)` indicates a change of state—the situation has changed to one where discharge is now possible. |
| * **Example 2:** | * **Example 2:** |
| * 爸爸明天就要**出院**了，我们去接他吧！ | * 他什么时候能**出院**？ |
| * Pinyin: Bàba míngtiān jiù yào **chūyuàn** le, wǒmen qù jiē tā ba! | * Pinyin: Tā shénme shíhòu néng **chūyuàn**? |
| * English: Dad is getting discharged tomorrow, let's go pick him up! | * English: When can he be discharged from the hospital? |
| * Analysis: The particle combination `就要...了 (jiù yào...le)` indicates an action that is about to happen soon, adding a sense of immediacy and often excitement. | * Analysis: A simple question using the modal verb `能 (néng)` to ask about the possibility or ability to be discharged. |
| * **Example 3:** | * **Example 3:** |
| * 你恢复得很好，下周一就可以**出院**了。 | * 奶奶上周五**出院**了，现在在家休息。 |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ huīfù de hěn hǎo, xià zhōuyī jiù kěyǐ **chūyuàn** le. | * Pinyin: Nǎinai shàng zhōuwǔ **chūyuàn** le, xiànzài zài jiā xiūxi. |
| * English: You're recovering very well, you can be discharged next Monday. | * English: Grandma was discharged last Friday and is now resting at home. |
| * Analysis: A typical sentence you would hear from a doctor or nurse, giving the official green light for discharge. | * Analysis: This sentence shows how **出院** is used to narrate past events, connecting the discharge to the current situation (resting at home). |
| * **Example 4:** | * **Example 4:** |
| * 他**出院**以后，还需要在家休息一个月。 | * 我得去医院帮我爸爸办**出院**手续。 |
| * Pinyin: Tā **chūyuàn** yǐhòu, hái xūyào zài jiā xiūxi yí ge yuè. | * Pinyin: Wǒ děi qù yīyuàn bāng wǒ bàba bàn **chūyuàn** shǒuxù. |
| * English: After he is discharged from the hospital, he still needs to rest at home for a month. | * English: I have to go to the hospital to help my dad with the discharge procedures. |
| * Analysis: This sentence shows how `出院` can mark a point in time. The structure `...以后 (yǐhòu)` means "after...". | * Analysis: This highlights the cultural point about family involvement. `办出院手续 (bàn chūyuàn shǒuxù)` is a key set phrase to remember. |
| * **Example 5:** | * **Example 5:** |
| * 请先去一楼付清费用，然后才能办理**出院**手续。 | * 恭喜你终于可以**出院**了！ |
| * Pinyin: Qǐng xiān qù yī lóu fùqīng fèiyòng, ránhòu cáinéng bànlǐ **chūyuàn** shǒuxù. | * Pinyin: Gōngxǐ nǐ zhōngyú kěyǐ **chūyuàn** le! |
| * English: Please first go to the first floor to pay the bill in full, then you can handle the discharge procedures. | * English: Congratulations on finally being able to leave the hospital! |
| * Analysis: This example highlights the practical, administrative side of being discharged. It features the key collocation `办理出院手续 (bànlǐ chūyuàn shǒuxù)`. | * Analysis: Shows the positive, celebratory nature of the event. `终于 (zhōngyú)` means "finally," emphasizing the long-awaited nature of the discharge. |
| * **Example 6:** | * **Example 6:** |
| * 听说你**出院**了，真是太好了！身体感觉怎么样？ | * 他病得很重，暂时还不能**出院**。 |
| * Pinyin: Tīngshuō nǐ **chūyuàn** le, zhēnshi tài hǎo le! Shēntǐ gǎnjué zěnmeyàng? | * Pinyin: Tā bìng de hěn zhòng, zànshí hái bù néng **chūyuàn**. |
| * English: I heard you were discharged, that's really great! How are you feeling? | * English: He is very sick and cannot be discharged for the time being. |
| * Analysis: A common and warm way to express relief and care when talking to a friend who has just gotten out of the hospital. | * Analysis: An example of the negative form, `不能出院 (bù néng chūyuàn)`, meaning "cannot be discharged." `暂时 (zànshí)` means "temporarily." |
| * **Example 7:** | * **Example 7:** |
| * **出院**那天，我们全家都去医院接他回家。 | * **出院**以后，你也要注意多休息。 |
| * Pinyin: **Chūyuàn** nà tiān, wǒmen quán jiā dōu qù yīyuàn jiē tā huí jiā. | * Pinyin: **Chūyuàn** yǐhòu, nǐ yě yào zhùyì duō xiūxi. |
| * English: On the day of his discharge, our whole family went to the hospital to bring him home. | * English: After you are discharged from the hospital, you also need to pay attention to getting more rest. |
| * Analysis: Here, `出院` is used to modify `那天 (nà tiān - that day)`, functioning like a descriptive noun. This shows its versatility in sentence structure. | * Analysis: This shows **出院** being used to mark a point in time, followed by `以后 (yǐhòu)`, meaning "after." |
| * **Example 8:** | * **Example 8:** |
| * 他上个月因为心脏病住院，上周才**出院**。 | * 你**出院**的时候，我来接你吧。 |
| * Pinyin: Tā shàng ge yuè yīnwèi xīnzàngbìng zhùyuàn, shàng zhōu cái **chūyuàn**. | * Pinyin: Nǐ **chūyuàn** de shíhòu, wǒ lái jiē nǐ ba. |
| * English: He was hospitalized last month for heart disease and was only discharged last week. | * English: When you get discharged, I'll come pick you up. |
| * Analysis: This sentence perfectly contrasts `住院 (zhùyuàn - to be hospitalized)` with `出院`. The word `才 (cái)` emphasizes that the discharge happened later than expected, implying a long recovery. | * Analysis: A friendly, conversational offer. `...的时候 (...de shíhòu)` is a common structure for "when..." |
| * **Example 9:** | * **Example 9:** |
| * 只要明天的检查结果没问题，病人就可以准备**出院**了。 | * 所有的检查结果都正常，他下午就**出院**了。 |
| * Pinyin: Zhǐyào míngtiān de jiǎnchá jiéguǒ méi wèntí, bìngrén jiù kěyǐ zhǔnbèi **chūyuàn** le. | * Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de jiǎnchá jiéguǒ dōu zhèngcháng, tā xiàwǔ jiù **chūyuàn** le. |
| * English: As long as tomorrow's test results are fine, the patient can prepare to be discharged. | * English: All the test results were normal, so he was discharged in the afternoon. |
| * Analysis: This demonstrates a conditional structure: `只要...就... (zhǐyào...jiù...)`, meaning "as long as...then...". | * Analysis: This sentence provides the reason for the discharge, showing a cause-and-effect relationship. |
| * **Example 10:** | * **Example 10:** |
| * 奶奶刚**出院**，身体还很虚弱，需要人照顾。 | * 别担心，**出院**通知书医生已经签好字了。 |
| * Pinyin: Nǎinai gāng **chūyuàn**, shēntǐ hái hěn xūruò, xūyào rén zhàogù. | * Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, **chūyuàn** tōngzhīshū yīshēng yǐjīng qiān hǎo zì le. |
| * English: Grandma was just discharged from the hospital, her body is still very weak, and she needs someone to take care of her. | * English: Don't worry, the doctor has already signed the discharge notice. |
| * Analysis: The adverb `刚 (gāng)` means "just now," indicating the discharge happened very recently. This sentence emphasizes that discharge is not the end of the recovery process. | * Analysis: Introduces a related noun, `出院通知书 (chūyuàn tōngzhīshū)`, the "discharge notice," which is part of the formal process. |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== |
| A crucial mistake for learners is confusing **出院 (chūyuàn)** with the more general phrase **离开医院 (líkāi yīyuàn)**. | * **Mistake: Confusing `出院 (chūyuàn)` vs. `离开医院 (líkāi yīyuàn)`** |
| * **出院 (chūyuàn):** Specifically means to be discharged after being an **in-patient** (admitted to the hospital). You must first be `住院 (zhùyuàn - hospitalized)` to be able to `出院`. | * This is the most common mistake for learners. |
| * **离开医院 (líkāi yīyuàn):** Means "to leave the hospital building." This applies to anyone: a visitor, a doctor finishing their shift, or a patient who just finished a quick outpatient check-up or consultation. | * **出院 (chūyuàn)** specifically means "to be discharged" as a patient after treatment. It's a formal medical process. |
| **Example of Incorrect Usage:** | * **离开医院 (líkāi yīyuàn)** simply means "to leave the hospital building." A visitor, a doctor finishing their shift, or a patient stepping out for fresh air are all `离开医院`. Only the patient completing their stay is `出院`. |
| * **Incorrect:** 我今天去看门诊，然后**出院**了。 (Wǒ jīntiān qù kàn ménzhěn, ránhòu **chūyuàn** le.) | * `*` **Incorrect:** 我昨天去看朋友，下午五点**出院**了。 (Wǒ zuótiān qù kàn péngyou, xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn **chūyuàn** le.) - //This incorrectly implies the visitor was discharged.// |
| * **Why it's wrong:** 看门诊 (kàn ménzhěn) means to see an outpatient clinic. You were never admitted, so you cannot be "discharged." | * `*` **Correct:** 我昨天去看朋友，下午五点**离开医院**了。 (Wǒ zuótiān qù kàn péngyou, xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn **líkāi yīyuàn** le.) - //Correctly states that the visitor left the hospital.// |
| * **Correct:** 我今天去看门诊，然后就**离开医院**了。 (Wǒ jīntiān qù kàn ménzhěn, ránhòu jiù **líkāi yīyuàn** le.) - "I went to the outpatient clinic today and then left the hospital." | * **Nuance: It's a Process, Not Just an Action** |
| | * Remember that **出院** implies more than just walking out the door. It includes the official approval from the doctor and the completion of paperwork (`办手续`). You can't just decide to `出院` on your own. |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== |
| * [[住院]] (zhùyuàn) - The direct antonym of `出院`. It means "to be hospitalized" or "to be admitted to the hospital." | * `[[住院]] (zhùyuàn)` - The direct antonym: to be hospitalized, to be admitted to the hospital. |
| * [[医院]] (yīyuàn) - The place where one is hospitalized and discharged from; "hospital." | * `[[医院]] (yīyuàn)` - The place where one is hospitalized and discharged from: a hospital. |
| * [[出院手续]] (chūyuàn shǒuxù) - A key related phrase meaning "discharge procedures/paperwork." | * `[[看病]] (kànbìng)` - "To see a doctor." This is often the first step that leads to `住院`. |
| * [[康复]] (kāngfù) - The goal of being in the hospital; "to recover," "to recuperate." | * `[[手续]] (shǒuxù)` - Procedures, formalities, paperwork. Frequently paired as `出院手续`. |
| * [[病人]] (bìngrén) - The person who is the subject of `出院`; "patient." | * `[[康复]] (kāngfù)` - To recover, to rehabilitate. This is the goal of hospitalization and the state a patient is in when they can `出院`. |
| * [[医生]] (yīshēng) - The person who authorizes the discharge; "doctor." | * `[[医生]] (yīshēng)` - Doctor. The person who gives the approval for discharge. |
| * [[护士]] (hùshi) - The person who assists with care and the discharge process; "nurse." | * `[[病人]] (bìngrén)` - Patient. The person who is the subject of `出院`. |
| * [[看病]] (kànbìng) - The general term for "to see a doctor." This does not necessarily imply being hospitalized. | * `[[出差]] (chūchāi)` - To go on a business trip. A good example of the `出 + Noun` structure. |
| * [[休养]] (xiūyǎng) - What you do after you `出院`; "to rest and recuperate," "to convalesce." | * `[[出国]] (chūguó)` - To go abroad. Another `出 + Noun` structure, literally "to exit the country." |
| * [[离开]] (líkāi) - A more general verb for "to leave" a place, which can be used for a hospital but lacks the specific meaning of being a discharged patient. | * `[[离开]] (líkāi)` - To leave, to depart from. The more general term for leaving a place, which helps distinguish the specific meaning of `出院`. |