What is the difference between "病院" and "びょういん"?

"病院" means "hospital" (N5), whereas "びょういん" represents "hospital; clinic" (N5).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "びょういん (byouin)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

びょういん (byouin)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

びょういん (byouin)

N5 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "びょういん (byouin)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

病院 (Level: N5): Translates to "hospital" and is used when A place where sick or injured people go for medical treatment..
びょういん (Level: N5): Maps to "hospital; clinic" and carries the nuance of A place where sick or injured people go for medical treatment. Can refer to both large hospitals and smaller clinics..

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "病院"

熱があるので、病院に行きます。

I have a fever, so I'm going to the hospital.

Bilingual Context for "びょういん"

風邪をひいたので、びょういんに行きます。

I caught a cold, so I'm going to the hospital.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "熱があるので、＿＿＿に行きます。" (Meaning: "I have a fever, so I'm going to the hospital.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "病院" is used for "hospital" in the context: "I have a fever, so I'm going to the hospital.".