bệnh viện
[ʔɓəjŋ̟˧˨ʔ viən˧˨ʔ]
The English word hospital is translated into Vietnamese as bệnh viện. Wiktionary also lists nhà thương and y viện.
Meaning: large medical facility (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| bệnh viện | [ʔɓəjŋ̟˧˨ʔ viən˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓen˨˩ʔ viəŋ˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| nhà thương | [ɲaː˨˩ tʰɨəŋ˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ɲaː˦˩ tʰɨəŋ˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| y viện | [ʔi˧˧ viən˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɪj˧˧ viəŋ˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
The term refers to a large medical facility where patients receive treatment.
What does it mean word for word?
The term bệnh viện is composed of bệnh, meaning illness or disease and viện, meaning institution or institute.
Which one should you use?
While bệnh viện is the standard term, you may encounter nhà thương, which is an archaic and traditional term rarely used in modern daily conversation. The term y viện specifically refers to a medical institute and is a highly formal or literary option.
Did you know?
- The word bệnh viện is an orthographic borrowing from the Japanese word byōin, which also means 'hospital'.
- The word bệnh means 'illness' and is used in a wide variety of contexts in Vietnamese to describe everything from physical sickness to moral failings.
Examples in context
- Tôi đã ở bệnh viện.I was at the hospital.This sentence is useful for stating that you were at the bệnh viện.Tatoeba #11262292 by chaule3, translation #11176745 by CK
- Tôi phải đi bệnh viện.I've got to go to the hospital.This sentence is useful for stating that you must go to the bệnh viện.Tatoeba #13841671 by vexvine, translation #2359752 by CK
- Mennad đã quay lại bệnh viện.Mennad went back to the hospital.This sentence is useful for stating that someone returned to the bệnh viện.Tatoeba #10257847 by hothuyhien, translation #8012823 by OsoHombre
- Tôi cần giúp đỡ! Dẫn tôi đến bệnh viện!I need help! Take me to the hospital!
- Bệnh viện gần nhất ở đâu?Where is the nearest hospital?
- Có hiệu thuốc gần bệnh viện không?Is there a pharmacy near the hospital?
- Xin lỗi, đây có phải bệnh viện không?Excuse me, is this the hospital?
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tuấn and Lan are discussing where to go for a checkup.
- TuấnLan ơi, bệnh viện nào tốt nhất?Lan, which hospital is the best?
- LanTôi nghĩ bệnh viện ở trung tâm rất tốt.I think the hospital downtown is very good.
- TuấnVậy tôi sẽ đến đó.Then I will go there.
- LanChúc anh may mắn nhé.Good luck to you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hospital” translations and entries bệnh viện, nhà thương, y viện, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bệnh, bệnh viện, nhà, nhà thương, thương, viện, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
