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March 24, 2026
护士(護士)hùshi(hu4shi5)
The term 护士 (hùshì) refers to a nurse, a healthcare professional who is responsible for caring for patients and assisting doctors. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing medical professions or healthcare settings.
Frequency#1904DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system, often viewed as compassionate caregivers. The profession is respected, and there are specific nursing schools and training programs to cultivate skilled nurses.
Memory Tip
Imagine a superhero (护) protecting (士) patients in a hospital. The character 护 (hù) means 'to protect,' and 士 (shì) can represent a person or professional. Visualize this superhero nurse caring for the sick to remember both the meaning and the pronunciation.
Meanings of 护士
hùshi(hu4shi5)
1nurse
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About 护士
护士Simplified
護士Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1904Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 护士
Podcast: 护士
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AI Study Notes for 护士
Quick Contrast
医生 (yīshēng) - use 护士 when referring specifically to nursing roles as opposed to the broader medical profession represented by 医生.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a superhero (护) protecting (士) patients in a hospital. The character 护 (hù) means 'to protect,' and 士 (shì) can represent a person or professional. Visualize this superhero nurse caring for the sick to remember both the meaning and the pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tones; 护士 is pronounced with a falling tone (hù) and a rising tone (shì). It's often used in healthcare contexts, so avoid using it in unrelated scenarios. Common collocations include '护士工作' (nurse work) and '护士长' (head nurse).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 护士 connects well with other medical terms like 医生 (doctor) and 病人 (patient). Students should focus on using this term in sentences about healthcare and practice the tones to avoid confusion.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system, often viewed as compassionate caregivers. The profession is respected, and there are specific nursing schools and training programs to cultivate skilled nurses.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 护士 with other professions, like 医生. For example, saying '我想成为一个医生' (I want to become a nurse) is incorrect; '护士' should be used instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 护士
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Grammar Patterns of 护士
护士 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The door burst open and an angry young nurse appeared.
Cultural Notes for 护士
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system, often viewed as compassionate caregivers. The profession is respected, and there are specific nursing schools and training programs to cultivate skilled nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions about 护士
护士 (hùshì) means 'nurse,' while 医生 (yīshēng) refers to a 'doctor.' Nurses assist doctors and provide patient care.
You can say '她是一名护士' (She is a nurse) to introduce someone in that profession.
Yes, you can specify roles, such as 护士长 (head nurse) or 助产士 (midwife) depending on their specialization.