病室 in 30 Seconds
- 病室 (Byōshitsu) means 'hospital room'.
- It combines 'illness' (病) and 'room' (室).
- Used for inpatient stays, not for quick check-ups.
- Commonly paired with verbs like 'enter' or 'visit'.
The Japanese word 病室 (びょうしつ - byōshitsu) is a compound noun that serves as the standard term for a patient's room within a medical facility. To understand its essence, one must look at its constituent kanji: 病 (byō), meaning illness or sickness, and 室 (shitsu), meaning room or chamber. Unlike a general 'room' (部屋 - heya), shitsu often denotes a room with a specific, often formal or institutional, purpose. Therefore, a 病室 is not just any room where a sick person lies, but a designated medical space within a hospital or clinic designed for inpatient care and recovery.
- Spatial Nuance
- It refers specifically to the residential area of the hospital. It excludes waiting rooms (待合室 - machiaishitsu), examination rooms (診察室 - shinsatsushitsu), or operating theaters (手術室 - shujutsushitsu).
- Institutional Context
- The term implies a professional medical setting. While you might call a bedroom at home where someone is sick a 'sickroom' in English, in Japanese, 病室 is almost exclusively reserved for hospitals.
「お父さんの病室は三階の三〇二号室です。」 (Your father's hospital room is room 302 on the third floor.)
「病室では静かにしてください。」 (Please be quiet in the hospital rooms.)
- Linguistic Function
- As a noun, it functions as the subject or object of a sentence and frequently takes particles like に (location), で (action location), or を (object of movement).
「彼は今、病室で眠っています。」 (He is sleeping in the hospital room now.)
Using 病室 correctly involves understanding its relationship with hospital-related verbs and the etiquette of visiting. Because it is a formal noun, it is often used in polite (desu/masu) contexts, especially when speaking to medical staff or family members of the patient.
1. Common Verb Pairings
- 病室に入る (Byōshitsu ni hairu): To enter the hospital room. Used when a doctor, nurse, or visitor walks in.
- 病室を出る (Byōshitsu o deru): To leave the hospital room.
- 病室を訪ねる (Byōshitsu o tazuneru): To visit a hospital room. A formal way to describe visiting a patient.
- 病室を移る (Byōshitsu o utsuru): To move/transfer to a different hospital room (e.g., from ICU to a general ward).
Example: 「看護師が急いで病室に入っていった。」 (The nurse rushed into the hospital room.)
2. Indicating Location
When describing where someone is or where an event is taking place, use the particles に (existence) or で (action).
- Location of Being (に)
- 「祖父は病室にいます。」
(Grandfather is in the hospital room.) - Location of Action (で)
- 「病室で本を読みます。」
(I read books in the hospital room.)
3. Honorifics and Politeness
When referring to a superior's or a customer's room, you might add the honorific prefix 'o' (お), though お病室 is less common than simply using the person's name + 様の病室 (e.g., 田中様の病室 - Mr. Tanaka's room).
「佐藤様の病室をご案内いたします。」 (I will guide you to Mr. Sato's hospital room.)
The word 病室 is ubiquitous in medical environments, media, and daily life when discussing health issues. Its frequency is high in both professional and casual settings.
1. At the Hospital Reception
When visiting a friend or relative, the first place you use this word is at the reception desk (受付 - uketsuke).
Visitor: 「お見舞いに来ました。鈴木さんの病室を教えてください。」
Receptionist: 「鈴木様は4階の415号室です。」
2. Medical Dramas and Literature
Japanese television is famous for 'Medical Dramas' (医療ドラマ - iryō dorama). You will hear doctors discussing 'patient rounds' (回診 - kaishin) which take place in the 病室.
3. News and Announcements
During health crises or when reporting on public figures, news anchors use 病室 to describe where a person is recovering.
「首相は現在、都内の病院の病室で静養されています。」 (The Prime Minister is currently resting in a hospital room in Tokyo.)
4. Signage
In any Japanese hospital, signs pointing to 'Ward A' or 'Ward B' will often lead to corridors labeled as 病室エリア (Hospital Room Area).
While 病室 is a straightforward noun, learners often confuse it with related terms or use it in contexts where a more specific word is required.
1. Confusing 病室 (Byōshitsu) with 病院 (Byōin)
This is the most common mistake for beginners. 病院 is the entire building (the hospital), while 病室 is the specific room inside it.
2. Confusing with 診察室 (Shinsatsushitsu)
When you go to the doctor for a check-up, you go to the 診察室 (Examination Room). You only go to a 病室 if you are being admitted for an overnight stay (入院 - nyūin).
3. Misusing with 'Home' Contexts
If someone is sick at home, do not use 病室. Use 寝室 (shinshitsu - bedroom) or simply 部屋 (heya - room).
4. Particle Errors
Learners sometimes use を when they mean に. 病室をいます is incorrect; it must be 病室にいます.
Japanese has several words for medical spaces. Understanding the nuances between them will make your Japanese sound more natural.
- 病棟 (Byōtō)
- Means 'Ward' or 'Wing'. A 病棟 is a collection of many 病室. For example, the 'Pediatric Ward' (小児病棟 - shōni byōtō).
- 個室 (Koshitsu)
- Means 'Private Room'. If you don't want to share a 病室 with others, you request a 個室.
- ICU (集中治療室 - Shūchū chiryō shitsu)
- The Intensive Care Unit. This is a highly specialized type of 病室 for critical patients.
- 待合室 (Machiaishitsu)
- The 'Waiting Room'. This is where you sit before your name is called for an appointment.
Comparison Table:
| Word | Focus | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 病室 | The specific room | Patient recovery |
| 病棟 | The whole floor/wing | Hospital organization |
| 診察室 | The doctor's office | Diagnosis/Check-up |
How Formal Is It?
Difficulty Rating
Grammar to Know
Location particles に vs で
Honorific prefixes お and ご
Counters for rooms (号室)
Potential form (見えます, 聞こえます)
Giving and receiving (～てあげる, ～てもらう)
Examples by Level
病室はどこですか？
Where is the hospital room?
Basic question with 'wa' and 'doko'.
ここは私の病室です。
This is my hospital room.
Demonstrative 'koko' + 'no' possessive.
病室に花があります。
There are flowers in the hospital room.
Location particle 'ni' + existence verb 'arimasu'.
田中さんの病室は三階です。
Mr. Tanaka's hospital room is on the third floor.
Possessive 'no' and counter for floors 'kai'.
病室はきれいです。
The hospital room is clean.
Adjective 'kirei' used as a predicate.
病室で休みます。
I will rest in the hospital room.
Action location particle 'de'.
静かな病室ですね。
It's a quiet hospital room, isn't it?
Adjective modifying noun + sentence-ending particle 'ne'.
病室へ行きましょう。
Let's go to the hospital room.
Directional particle 'e' + 'mashō' (let's).
病室で電話をしないでください。
Please do not use the phone in the hospital room.
Negative request '~naide kudasai'.
看護師さんが病室に来ました。
The nurse came to the hospital room.
Subject marker 'ga' + past tense 'kimashita'.
病室の窓から海が見えます。
You can see the sea from the hospital room window.
Potential verb 'miemasu' + 'kara' (from).
この病室は四人部屋です。
This hospital room is a four-person room.
Counter for people 'nin' + 'beya' (room).
病室に入る前に手を洗ってください。
Please wash your hands before entering the hospital room.
'~mae ni' (before) structure.
病室をきれいに掃除しました。
I cleaned the hospital room thoroughly.
Adverbial form of 'kirei' + 'shimashita'.
病室にテレビがありますか？
Is there a TV in the hospital room?
Question form of existence.
昨日、新しい病室に引っ越しました。
Yesterday, I moved to a new hospital room.
Past tense 'hikkoshimashita'.
病室が乾燥しているので、加湿器を借りました。
The hospital room was dry, so I borrowed a humidifier.
Reasoning '~node' + past tense.
病室での面会時間は午後八時までです。
Visiting hours in the hospital room are until 8 PM.
Noun phrase 'byōshitsu de no' (in the room).
彼は病室で静かに本を読んで過ごしています。
He is spending his time quietly reading books in the hospital room.
Te-form for ongoing state 'sugoshite imasu'.
病室の入り口にアルコール消毒液が置いてあります。
Alcohol disinfectant is placed at the entrance of the hospital room.
'~te arimasu' (resultant state).
隣の病室の人が退院したようです。
It seems the person in the next hospital room has been discharged.
'~yō desu' (it seems).
病室の温度をもう少し上げてもらえますか？
Could you please raise the temperature of the hospital room a little?
Polite request '~te moraemasu ka'.
個室の病室を希望しましたが、空いていませんでした。
I requested a private hospital room, but none were available.
Contrastive 'ga' + past negative.
病室まで車椅子で案内されました。
I was guided to the hospital room in a wheelchair.
Passive voice 'annai saremashita'.
病室の環境が患者の回復速度に影響を与えると言われています。
It is said that the hospital room environment affects the patient's recovery speed.
Passive reporting 'to iwarete imasu'.
夜間の病室は、ナースコールの音だけが響いていた。
In the hospital room at night, only the sound of the nurse call button echoed.
Focus particle 'dake' + past continuous.
感染症対策のため、病室への立ち入りが制限されている。
Entry to hospital rooms is restricted to prevent infectious diseases.
Noun for purpose 'tame' + passive 'seigen sarete iru'.
病室の窓側にベッドを配置することで、開放感を出している。
By placing the bed by the window, a sense of openness is created in the hospital room.
Gerund 'koto de' (by doing).
彼は病室のベッドの上で、これまでの人生を振り返った。
On his hospital bed, he looked back on his life so far.
Compound verb 'furikaetta'.
病室代の差額分を保険でカバーできるか確認した。
I checked if the insurance covers the difference in hospital room charges.
Embedded question 'ka' + 'kakunin shita'.
多床室の病室では、プライバシーの確保が課題となっている。
Ensuring privacy is a challenge in multi-bed hospital rooms.
Nominalization 'kakuho' + 'kadai'.
医師は病室を回り、一人一人の容態を詳しくチェックした。
The doctor went around the hospital rooms and checked each person's condition in detail.
Verb stem 'mawari' used as a conjunction.
病室における照明の色彩が、患者の精神状態に及ぼす影響を調査する。
We will investigate the effects of lighting colors in hospital rooms on patients' mental states.
Formal 'ni okeru' (in/at).
最新の病室には、バイタルデータを自動送信するシステムが導入されている。
The latest hospital rooms are equipped with systems that automatically transmit vital data.
Passive 'dōnyū sarete iru'.
病室の静謐さを保つことは、看護ケアの質を左右する重要な要素だ。
Maintaining the tranquility of the hospital room is a crucial factor that influences the quality of nursing care.
Nominalized phrase as subject.
緩和ケア病棟の病室は、家庭的な雰囲気になるよう工夫されている。
Hospital rooms in palliative care wards are designed to have a home-like atmosphere.
'~yō ni' (so that/in a way).
病室の床面積に関する法的基準が、近年見直された。
Legal standards regarding the floor area of hospital rooms have been revised in recent years.
Compound particle 'ni kansuru' (regarding).
重症患者の病室では、二十四時間体制のモニタリングが行われる。
In rooms for critically ill patients, 24-hour monitoring is conducted.
Formal 'okonawareru' (to be held/conducted).
病室という閉鎖的な空間において、患者のQOLをいかに向上させるかが問われている。
The question is how to improve the QOL of patients in the confined space of a hospital room.
Appositive 'to iu' + 'ikani' (how).
彼は病室の窓から差し込む一筋の光に、希望を見出した。
He found hope in a single ray of light shining through the hospital room window.
Literary verb 'miidashita'.
病室の変遷を辿れば、近代医学が患者の身体をいかに管理してきたかが浮き彫りになる。
Tracing the evolution of the hospital room reveals how modern medicine has managed the patient's body.
Conditional 'ba' + 'ukibori ni naru' (become clear).
無機質な病室の壁が、死と向き合う者の孤独をより一層際立たせる。
The inorganic walls of the hospital room further highlight the loneliness of those facing death.
Causative 'kiwadataseru'.
病室のゾーニングは、院内感染防止策の根幹をなす極めて重要なプロセスである。
Zoning of hospital rooms is an extremely important process that forms the basis of hospital-acquired infection prevention measures.
Formal 'nasu' (to form/make).
病室という空間は、日常から切り離された一種の聖域とも、あるいは監獄とも形容し得る。
The space of a hospital room can be described as a kind of sanctuary separated from daily life, or perhaps a prison.
Potential 'uru' (can/be possible).
建築家は、病室の設計において、機能性と人間性の相克を常に意識せざるを得ない。
In designing hospital rooms, architects cannot help but be conscious of the conflict between functionality and humanity.
'~zaru o enai' (cannot help but).
病室のベッドサイドで行われるインフォームド・コンセントの在り方が、今改めて問われている。
The nature of informed consent conducted at the bedside in hospital rooms is now being questioned once again.
Noun 'arikata' (the way things should be).
病室というトポスは、生と死、健康と病が交錯する境界線上の空間である。
The topos of the hospital room is a space on the boundary where life and death, health and illness intersect.
Metaphorical use of 'topos'.
病室におけるプライバシー権の確立は、患者の主体性を取り戻すための第一歩であった。
The establishment of privacy rights in hospital rooms was the first step toward reclaiming patient autonomy.
Formal 'tame no' + 'de atta'.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Often Confused With
Idioms & Expressions
Easily Confused
Sentence Patterns
How to Use It
Japanese doesn't distinguish between 'room' and 'rooms' unless specified by counters.
Byōshitsu is for patients; Shinsatsushitsu is for doctors' exams.
- Saying 'Byōshitsu ni iku' when you mean you are going to the hospital (use 病院へ行く).
- Pronouncing it 'Biyōshitsu' (Hair salon).
- Using 'Byōshitsu' for a clinic's waiting area.
- Forgetting the long 'ō' sound.
- Using the wrong particle (e.g., 病室をいます).
Tips
Kanji Breakdown
Focus on the 'illness' radical (疒) in the first kanji. It looks like a person under a roof with drops of sweat.
Pitch Accent
The word is flat (Heiban). Don't drop your voice at the end; keep it steady.
Related Suffixes
Learn other '-shitsu' words like 'kyōshitsu' and 'kaigishitsu' to remember the 'room' part.
Gift Giving
When visiting a byōshitsu, don't bring anything in sets of 4 or 9.
Particle Choice
Use 'ni' to say who is in the room, and 'de' to say what they are doing.
Polite Inquiry
When asking for a room, start with 'Sumimasen' to be polite.
Signs
Look for the characters 病室 on hospital floor maps; they are usually color-coded.
The 'Byo' Sound
Think of 'Beyond' - you are beyond the waiting room and inside the byōshitsu.
Specifics
If you are talking about a specific room number, say '302号室' instead of just 'byōshitsu'.
Stroke Order
The radical in 'byō' (疒) is written first (top and left sides).
Memorize It
Visual Association
A white room with a blue curtain and a metal bed frame.
Word Origin
Sino-Japanese (Kango)
Cultural Context
Rooms ending in 4 or 9 are often avoided in hospitals because 4 (shi) sounds like death and 9 (ku) sounds like suffering.
Always check with the nurse before entering a byōshitsu.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Conversation Starters
"病室は静かですか？"
"病室に何か持って行きましょうか？"
"病室の窓からの景色はどうですか？"
"病室を個室に変えたいですか？"
"病室での生活はどうですか？"
Journal Prompts
もし入院したら、どんな病室がいいですか？
病室で一番大切なものは何だと思いますか？
お見舞いで病室に行った時のことを書いてください。
理想的な病室のデザインを説明してください。
病室での一日のスケジュールを想像して書いてください。
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it is strictly for hospitals. Use 'shinshitsu' (bedroom) or 'heya' (room) at home.
Byōshitsu is a single room; byōtō is a whole ward or wing of the hospital.
Use 'koshitsu' (個室).
It is a neutral, standard noun. It is appropriate in all settings.
Say 'Byōshitsu wa nan-gōshitsu desu ka?'
It depends on hospital rules, but generally, you should ask the staff first.
It means a large, shared hospital room, usually for 4 to 6 people.
Yes, it is the exact same kanji meaning illness.
By Japanese law, all byōshitsu must have a certain amount of natural light.
Say 'Byōshitsu ni imasu'.
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Summary
病室 is the specific room where a patient lives during a hospital stay. Do not confuse it with 病院 (the whole hospital) or 診察室 (the doctor's exam room). It is a formal, institutional term.
- 病室 (Byōshitsu) means 'hospital room'.
- It combines 'illness' (病) and 'room' (室).
- Used for inpatient stays, not for quick check-ups.
- Commonly paired with verbs like 'enter' or 'visit'.
Kanji Breakdown
Focus on the 'illness' radical (疒) in the first kanji. It looks like a person under a roof with drops of sweat.
Pitch Accent
The word is flat (Heiban). Don't drop your voice at the end; keep it steady.
Related Suffixes
Learn other '-shitsu' words like 'kyōshitsu' and 'kaigishitsu' to remember the 'room' part.
Gift Giving
When visiting a byōshitsu, don't bring anything in sets of 4 or 9.
Example
個室の病室です。
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