護士 / 护士
hùshi
The Chinese word for nurse is 護士 / 护士 (hùshi). If unsure, use 護士 / 护士. Wiktionary also lists 看護 / 看护 (kānhù).
Meaning: person trained to provide care for the sick (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 護士 / 护士 | hùshi | |
| 看護 / 看护 | kānhù | dated |
The term 護士 / 护士 is the standard professional term used in modern medical settings to refer to a registered nurse.
What does it mean word for word?
護士 / 护士 is composed of 護, meaning to protect or guard and 士, meaning a person of status or a professional.
Which one should you use?
看護 / 看护 is a dated term, whereas 護士 / 护士 is the contemporary standard.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Cantonese dialect spoken in Guangdong and Hong Kong, the term for nurse is 護士 (wu6 si6).
How do you pronounce it?
hùshi
Did you know?
- In mainland China, the term 护士 can be used as a polite title, but in some traditional settings, people might refer to them as 白衣天使, which means 'white-clad angel'.
- The character 护 can also be used in the word 护照, meaning 'passport', as both words center on the idea of 'protecting' or 'guarding' someone.
- The character 士 is also found in the word for 'soldier' or 'scholar', showing that the suffix is used to categorize various types of professionals.
Examples in context
- 请找一个护士。Please find a nurse.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nurse” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
