醫院
i-īⁿ
The Hokkien word for hospital is 醫院 (i-īⁿ).
醫院 is used to refer to a large medical facility.
Meaning: large medical facility (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters for 'medicine/doctor' (醫) and 'institution/courtyard' (院).
How do you pronounce it?
i-īⁿ
Did you know?
- When talking about a 'mental hospital', Hokkien speakers often avoid 醫院 and use terms related to 'spirit' or 'mind' to avoid the stigma of the general medical term.
- The word 院 (īⁿ) in 醫院 literally refers to a courtyard or an open courtyard, suggesting the historical design of large medical compounds.
- While the term 醫院 is used in formal settings, many Hokkien speakers colloquially refer to the hospital simply as 醫局 (i-kiok).
Example conversation
Zhiming and Xiaowen are talking about a sick friend.
- 志明 Chi-ming曉雯，他現在在醫院嗎？Xiǎowén, i hian-chái chāi i-inn kà?Xiaowen, is he at the hospital now?
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun對，他在醫院休息。tùi, i chāi i-inn hiu-sè.Yes, he is resting at the hospital.
- 志明 Chi-ming我們要去醫院看他嗎？lán beh khì i-inn khòaⁿ i kà?Should we go to the hospital to visit him?
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun好，我們現在就出發。hó, lán hian-chái chiū chhut-pát.Okay, let's leave right now.
