Usage note
住院是指生病后去医院看病并需要在医院里治疗的情况。
zhùyuàn shì zhēng bìng hòu qù yīyuàn kàn bìng, bìng xū yào zài yīyuàn lǐ zhěng liàng de kuàng chéng。
住院 refers to the situation where you go to the hospital for treatment when you are sick and need to stay there.
Context note
住院通常出现在生病需要治疗、手术或观察时，比如感冒、发烧或者骨折等情况。
zhùyuàn tōng cháng xǔ chū lái shēng bìng xū yào zhěng liàng, sān gòu huò guān chá shí, bǐ rú gǎn mào、fā fèi huò qí fà。
Hospitalization usually occurs when you need treatment, surgery, or observation due to illness, such as a cold, fever, or broken bone.
5 examples
他生病了，需要住院治疗。
tā shēng bìng le， xū yào zhù yuàn zhì liáo。
He was sick and needed hospital treatment.
妈妈因为手术住院了一个星期。
mā ma yīn wèi shǒu shù zhù yuàn le yí gè xīng qī。
Mom had to stay in the hospital for a week after surgery.
医生建议我住院观察病情。
yī shēng jiàn yì wǒ zhù yuàn guān chá bìng qíng。
The doctor advised me to be hospitalized for observation.
他因为肺炎住院了，现在好多了。
tā yīn wèi fèi yán zhù yuàn le， xiàn zài hǎo duō le。
He was hospitalized due to pneumonia, and he is much better now.
住院期间要按时服药并注意休息。
zhù yuàn qī jiān yào àn shí fú yào bìng zhù yì xiū xi。
During hospitalization, you should take your medicine on time and rest well.
5 mini stories
小明生病了，妈妈带他去医院看病。医生说需要住院治疗。
xiǎo míng shēng bìng le， mā ma dài tā qù yī yuàn kàn bìng。 yī shēng shuō xū yào zhù yuàn zhì liáo。
Xiaoming was sick. His mom took him to the hospital for a check-up. The doctor said he needed to be hospitalized.
爸爸因为车祸住院了，全家人都很担心。
bà ba yīn wèi chē huò zhù yuàn le， quán jiā rén dōu hěn dān xīn。
Dad was hospitalized after a car accident, and the whole family was very worried.
奶奶年纪大了，身体不太好，需要定期去医院检查和住院治疗。
nǎi nai nián jì dà le， shēn tǐ bú tài hǎo， xū yào dìng qī qù yī yuàn jiǎn chá hé zhù yuàn zhì liáo。
Grandma is old. Her health isn't good, so she needs to go to the hospital for regular check-ups and treatment.
小红感冒了，妈妈带她去看医生。医生说不需要住院，开了一些药给她。
xiǎo hóng gǎn mào le， mā mā dài tā qù kàn yī shēng。 yī shēng shuō bù xū yào zhù yuàn， kāi le yì xiē yào gěi tā。
Xiaohong had a cold. Her mom took her to see the doctor. The doctor said she didn't need to be hospitalized and gave her some medicine.
叔叔因为手术成功出院了，但他还需要住院观察一段时间。
shū shū yīn wèi shǒu shù chéng gōng chū yuàn le， dàn tā hái xū yào zhù yuàn guān chá yí duàn shí jiān。
Uncle was discharged after successful surgery, but he still needed to stay in the hospital for observation.
Mini dialogue
看望朋友
A
听说小明住院了，我们去看他吧。
Tīngshuō Xiǎomíng zhùyuàn le, wǒmen qù kàn tā ba.
I heard Xiaoming is hospitalized, let's go visit him.
B
好，他住院几天了？
Hǎo, tā zhùyuàn jǐ tiān le?
Okay, how many days has he been hospitalized?
请假原因
A
你昨天为什么没来上学？
Nǐ zuótiān wèishénme méi lái shàngxué?
Why didn't you come to school yesterday?
B
我住院了，现在好多了。
Wǒ zhùyuàn le, xiànzài hǎo duō le.
I was hospitalized, I'm much better now.
Related words and contrasts
related
医院
yīyuàn
hospital
医院 is the place (hospital), while 住院 is the action of staying in the hospital.
opposite
出院
chūyuàn
to leave hospital
出院 means to be discharged from the hospital, the opposite of 住院.