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March 24, 2026
病人()bìngrén(bing4ren2)
The term '病人' (bìngrén) refers to a sick person or patient, typically someone receiving medical care or treatment. It is commonly used in healthcare contexts, such as hospitals or clinics, and can also imply someone with a long-term illness.
Frequency#907DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on family care for the sick, and the term '病人' often invokes not only the patient's condition but also the family's role in their care, reflecting the collectivist nature of Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Think of '病' (bìng) as a 'binge' on sickness and '人' (rén) as a 'run' of people. Imagine a line of people bingeing on unhealthy food, which leads to their sickness, thus becoming patients.
Meanings of 病人
bìngrén(bing4ren2)
1sick person
2patient
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 病人
病人Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL1YCTL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 病人
Podcast: 病人
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AI Study Notes for 病人
Quick Contrast
患者 (huànzhě) — use '病人' when referring to a sick person in a more general or informal context, while '患者' is often used in formal medical settings.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of '病' (bìng) as a 'binge' on sickness and '人' (rén) as a 'run' of people. Imagine a line of people bingeing on unhealthy food, which leads to their sickness, thus becoming patients.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse '病人' with '患者' (huànzhě), which is a more formal term for a patient. '病人' is used more informally and in everyday conversation. Remember to use the correct tone for '病' and '人': both are second and second tone respectively.
HSK Study Tips
While '病人' is not specifically listed in the HSK vocabulary, it contains characters that appear in HSK levels 1 and 2. Focus on recognizing the characters separately and understanding their meanings to build vocabulary related to health and illness.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on family care for the sick, and the term '病人' often invokes not only the patient's condition but also the family's role in their care, reflecting the collectivist nature of Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly write '病人' as '病人们' (bìngrénmen), which is incorrect as '人' does not require a plural form in this context. Additionally, confusing '病人' with '生病' (shēngbìng) is common; the latter means 'to get sick' rather than referring to a person.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 病人
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Common Confusions with 病人
病人vs人
rén
Common character for 'person' with similar pronunciation.
病人vs病
bìng
Shares the radical 疒, related to illness.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "sick person"?
or
Cultural Notes for 病人
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, patients are often treated with a holistic approach, combining traditional Chinese medicine with modern treatments. This reflects the belief in balancing the body and restoring harmony.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on family care for the sick, and the term '病人' often invokes not only the patient's condition but also the family's role in their care, reflecting the collectivist nature of Chinese society.
Frequently Asked Questions about 病人
Yes, 病人 can refer to anyone who is sick or requires medical attention. However, it is most commonly used to describe someone who is officially recognized as a patient by a healthcare provider.
病人 (bìngrén) means 'patient,' while 医生 (yīshēng) means 'doctor.' The two terms represent different roles in the healthcare system, with 病人 being the individual receiving care and 医生 being the professional providing it.
病人 (bìngrén) means 'sick person' or 'patient' in Chinese. It is used to refer to someone who is unwell or receiving medical treatment. The term can also imply someone who is invalid or has a chronic illness.
You can use 病人 in a sentence like: '他是我的病人' (Tā shì wǒ de bìngrén), which means 'He is my patient.' This shows that the person is under medical care or attention.
'病人' is more commonly used in everyday language, while '患者' is more formal and often found in medical contexts.
Make sure to pronounce '病' with a falling tone (4th tone) and '人' with a rising tone (2nd tone).
Yes, '病人' can refer to anyone who is sick, not just those in medical facilities.
