phòng khám
[fawŋ͡m˨˩ xaːm˧˦]
In Vietnamese, clinic is phòng khám. Wiktionary also lists phòng khám bệnh and phòng mạch.
Meaning: medical facility (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| phòng khám | [fawŋ͡m˨˩ xaːm˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [fawŋ͡m˦˩ kʰaːm˦˧˥] (Huế, narrow) |
| phòng khám bệnh | [fawŋ͡m˨˩ xaːm˧˦ ʔɓəjŋ̟˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, word by word, narrow) |
| phòng mạch | [fawŋ͡m˨˩ majk̟̚˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [fawŋ͡m˦˩ mat̚˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
What does it mean word for word?
The word phòng khám is composed of phòng (room) and khám (to examine/inspect).
Which one should you use?
phòng khám is more commonly used to refer to outpatient clinics or specialized clinics. phòng khám bệnh is a more specific version of phòng khám that explicitly includes the word bệnh (illness/disease). phòng mạch is a more formal or traditional term often used to refer to a private doctor's practice or clinic.
Did you know?
- The formal term phòng mạch literally translates to 'room of the pulse'. It evokes the traditional practice of a doctor feeling a patient's pulse to diagnose an ailment.
- Vietnamese medical terminology often relies on Sino-Vietnamese roots. This allows the language to distinguish between a common 'room' and a formal 'medical facility' using specific Chinese-derived characters.
Examples in context
- Phòng khám nhỏ này chuyên điều trị các bệnh nhẹ.This small clinic specializes in treating minor illnesses.
- Tôi đang đi đến phòng khám.I am going to the clinic.
- Phòng khám này rất sạch sẽ.This clinic is very clean.
- Có một phòng khám gần đây.There is a clinic nearby.
Example conversation
Hùng asks Mai where she is going.
- MaiHùng ơi, anh có biết phòng khám nào tốt không?Hung, do you know any good clinics?
- HùngTôi biết một phòng khám ở phố bên cạnh.I know a clinic on the next street.
- MaiNó có đông người không?Is it crowded?
- HùngKhông, phòng khám đó khá vắng.No, that clinic is quite quiet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clinic” translations and entries phòng khám, phòng mạch, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (phòng, khám, bệnh) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bệnh, khám, mạch, phòng, phòng khám, phòng mạch, CC BY-SA 4.0.
