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诊所 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
诊所zhěnsuǒclinicHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #3040, Very Hard
zhěnsuǒ(zhen3suo3)zhen suo T3
  1. 1clinic
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March 24, 2026

诊所(診所)zhěnsuǒ(zhen3suo3)

诊所 (zhěn suǒ) refers to a clinic, a healthcare facility where patients receive outpatient medical care. It is commonly used in contexts involving minor illnesses, check-ups, or preventive care, distinguishing it from hospitals that handle more serious cases.

Strokes15Frequency#3040DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, clinics are often the first point of contact for medical issues, reflecting the emphasis on accessible healthcare. Many communities have local clinics that provide affordable services, reinforcing the value of preventive care.

Memory tip

Think of 诊 (zhěn) as 'examining' and 所 (suǒ) as 'place,' together forming 'a place for examination.' Visualize a small building with a sign that says 'clinic' where doctors examine patients, linking the image to the pronunciation.

Meanings of 诊所

zhěnsuǒ(zhen3suo3)
1clinic
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 诊所

诊所Simplified
診所Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 诊所

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Podcast: 诊所

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AI study notes for 诊所

Quick Contrast

医院 (yīyuàn) - use 诊所 for outpatient care and minor issues, while 医院 is for more serious medical conditions.

Usage Notes

This term is often used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal settings like medical documents. Common collocations include 诊所医生 (clinic doctor) and 看诊所 (to visit a clinic). Beware of confusing it with 医院 (hospital), which is more extensive.

HSK Study Tips

While 诊所 is not on the official HSK list, it relates to healthcare vocabulary, which is essential for HSK learners at levels 3 and above. Students should focus on related terms like 医生 (doctor) and 医疗 (medical care) to build contextual understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 诊所 with 医院, mistakenly saying '我去医院' (I go to the clinic) when they mean to say 'clinic.' The correct phrase should be '我去诊所'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 诊所

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Component characters

诊zhěnto examine or treat medically
HSK 57 strokes讠
View full entry
所suǒactually
HSK 58 strokes户
View full entry

How to say clinic in Chinese

“clinic” in Chinese is诊所zhěnsuǒ

诊所 (zhěn suǒ) refers to a clinic, a healthcare facility where patients receive outpatient medical care. It is commonly used in contexts involving minor illnesses, check-ups, or preventive care, distinguishing it from hospitals that handle more serious cases.

When to use 诊所

This term is often used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal settings like medical documents. Common collocations include 诊所医生 (clinic doctor) and 看诊所 (to visit a clinic). Beware of confusing it with 医院 (hospital), which is more extensive.

诊所 or something close to it

医院 (yīyuàn) - use 诊所 for outpatient care and minor issues, while 医院 is for more serious medical conditions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 诊所 with 医院, mistakenly saying '我去医院' (I go to the clinic) when they mean to say 'clinic.' The correct phrase should be '我去诊所'.

Write 诊所

诊
所

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Frequently asked questions about 诊所

诊所 refers to a clinic for outpatient services, while 医院 is a hospital that provides a broader range of medical services, including inpatient care.

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