Hospital and medical admin glossary: English, Chinese, pinyin

挂号 is the registration process at a Chinese hospital. For an outpatient visit, it means registering at the desk, selecting the department you need, and receiving a registration slip (挂号单) that logs you into the queue for that department. Without completing this step you will not be seen. In many hospitals, registration can now be done via a mobile app or kiosk in advance of your visit.

病历本 (bìng lì běn) is a small booklet — issued at the hospital when you first register — in which doctors write their consultation notes each visit. Some hospitals issue these on first registration and expect you to bring it to every subsequent visit at that hospital. It is separate from your full medical record file held by the hospital. International patients sometimes find that the hospital issues a digital record instead, or keeps notes in the patient system without a physical booklet. Ask the registration desk what applies to you.

Major hospitals in large cities — particularly those with international departments — typically have bilingual (English and Chinese) signage in their main areas and international sections. Signage in general wards, specialist outpatient clinics, and smaller hospitals is usually in Chinese only. This glossary is intended to help you navigate those areas.

检验报告 (jiǎn yàn bào gào) refers to laboratory test reports — blood tests, urine analyses, and similar. 检查报告 (jiǎn chá bào gào) refers to examination or investigation reports more broadly, including imaging and procedural findings. In practice, the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably in informal speech, but on official documents they usually have this distinction.

Show the Chinese characters from this list to a member of hospital staff at the information desk (询问台, xún wèn tái) or to the international department coordinator. Most hospitals have a floor guide at the main entrance. If your department is not in this list, the international department coordinator can direct you.