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养老院 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
养老院yǎnglǎoyuànnursing homeHSK 6, unknown, 24 strokes, rank #10842, Hard
yǎnglǎoyuàn(yang3lao3yuan4) T3
  1. 1nursing home
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March 24, 2026

养老院(養老院)yǎnglǎoyuàn(yang3lao3yuan4)

养老院 (yǎnglǎoyuàn) refers to a nursing home or elder care facility where elderly individuals receive care and assistance. It is commonly used in contexts related to discussing aging, health care services for seniors, and family decisions about elder care.

Strokes24Frequency#10842DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In China, the traditional view often stresses filial piety, which can make the decision to place a parent in a 养老院 a sensitive topic. However, there is a growing acceptance of nursing homes as families become more nuclear and urbanized.

Memory Tip

Imagine a peaceful garden where elderly people are cared for; the character 养 (yǎng) means 'to raise' or 'to nurture,' while 老 (lǎo) signifies 'old' or 'elderly.' The word 院 (yuàn) resembles a house, representing a place where the elderly can live comfortably.

Meanings of 养老院

yǎnglǎoyuàn(yang3lao3yuan4)
1nursing home
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About 养老院

养老院Simplified
養老院Traditional
24Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 养老院

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Podcast: 养老院

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AI Study Notes for 养老院

Quick Contrast

敬老院 (jìnglǎoyuàn) - use 养老院 for general elder care facilities, while 敬老院 emphasizes respect and care for the elderly.

Usage Notes

This term is used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing elder care. Be cautious not to confuse it with related terms like '老年人' (lǎoniánrén), which means 'elderly person.' It is also important to use the correct tones, as mispronouncing '养老院' could lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 养老院 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it relates to concepts of aging and health, which are relevant at the intermediate levels. Students should focus on understanding related words about family and care.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 养老院 to refer to any senior citizen, rather than a facility. For example, saying '我在养老院工作' (Wǒ zài yǎnglǎoyuàn gōngzuò) meaning 'I work at a nursing home' is correct, but saying '我有一个养老院' (Wǒ yǒu yīgè yǎnglǎoyuàn) to mean 'I have an elderly person' is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 养老院

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Component Characters

养yǎngto raise (animals)
HSK 39 strokes丷
View full entry
老lǎoold (of people)
HSK 36 strokes老
View full entry
院yuàncourtyard
HSK 29 strokes阝
View full entry

How to say nursing home in Chinese

“nursing home” in Chinese is养老院yǎnglǎoyuàn

养老院 (yǎnglǎoyuàn) refers to a nursing home or elder care facility where elderly individuals receive care and assistance. It is commonly used in contexts related to discussing aging, health care services for seniors, and family decisions about elder care.

When to use 养老院

This term is used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing elder care. Be cautious not to confuse it with related terms like '老年人' (lǎoniánrén), which means 'elderly person.' It is also important to use the correct tones, as mispronouncing '养老院' could lead to misunderstandings.

养老院 or something close to it

敬老院 (jìnglǎoyuàn) - use 养老院 for general elder care facilities, while 敬老院 emphasizes respect and care for the elderly.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 养老院 to refer to any senior citizen, rather than a facility. For example, saying '我在养老院工作' (Wǒ zài yǎnglǎoyuàn gōngzuò) meaning 'I work at a nursing home' is correct, but saying '我有一个养老院' (Wǒ yǒu yīgè yǎnglǎoyuàn) to mean 'I have an elderly person' is incorrect.

Write 养老院

养
老
院

Practice writing 养老院 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 养老院

Both terms refer to a nursing home, but 养老院 is more commonly used and is seen as more respectful.

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