您好，我是您的护士。
Nín hǎo, wǒ shì nín de hùshi.
Hello, I'm your nurse.
Introduction
Nursing Mandarin
Mandarin tips for nurses and healthcare workers
Practical Mandarin for nurses and healthcare workers caring for Mandarin-speaking patients: the phrases you use every shift, equipment words, and a bedside communication board, all with pinyin and English.
Tip 1: Use 您 (nín), not 你 (nǐ)
您 is the polite 'you'. Use it with every patient, especially older patients. 你 can sound too casual from a nurse.
Tip 2: Learn the words patients really use
Patients say 小便 (xiǎobiàn) rather than 尿液 for urine, 喘不上气 (chuǎn bú shàng qì) when they are breathless, and 疼 (téng) for pain.
Tip 3: Yes and no repeat the verb
Ask 疼吗？ (Téng ma? Does it hurt?) and the patient answers 疼 (yes) or 不疼 (no). There is no single word for yes.
Tip 4: Use numbers for pain
从0到10，您有多疼？ (Cóng líng dào shí, nín yǒu duō téng?) works with any pain score chart.
Equipment words
血压计 (xuèyājì) blood pressure monitor; 体温计 (tǐwēnjì) thermometer; 听诊器 (tīngzhěnqì) stethoscope; 血氧仪 (xuèyǎngyí) pulse oximeter; 输液 (shūyè) IV infusion; 针头 (zhēntóu) needle; 轮椅 (lúnyǐ) wheelchair; 呼叫铃 (hūjiàolíng) call bell; 便盆 (biànpén) bedpan.
Bedside communication board
Point-to words for patients who cannot speak much: 疼 (téng) pain; 喝水 (hē shuǐ) water; 上厕所 (shàng cèsuǒ) toilet; 冷 (lěng) cold; 热 (rè) hot; 恶心 (ě xīn) nausea; 喘不上气 (chuǎn bú shàng qì) can't breathe; 叫家属 (jiào jiāshǔ) call my family.
High-yield phrases
请问您叫什么名字？
Qǐngwèn nín jiào shénme míngzi?
What is your name?
Patient identity check
我给您量一下血压。
Wǒ gěi nín liáng yíxià xuèyā.
I'll take your blood pressure.
Observations
我给您量一下体温。
Wǒ gěi nín liáng yíxià tǐwēn.
I'll take your temperature.
Observations
您哪里疼？
Nín nǎlǐ téng?
Where does it hurt?
Pain assessment
从0到10，您有多疼？
Cóng líng dào shí, nín yǒu duō téng?
From 0 to 10, how bad is the pain?
Pain score
您对什么药过敏吗？
Nín duì shénme yào guòmǐn ma?
Are you allergic to any medicine?
Allergy check
这是您的药，请现在吃。
Zhè shì nín de yào, qǐng xiànzài chī.
This is your medicine; please take it now.
Medication round
手术前不能吃东西，也不能喝水。
Shǒushù qián bù néng chī dōngxi, yě bù néng hē shuǐ.
No food or water before surgery.
Pre-op fasting
有事请按呼叫铃。
Yǒu shì qǐng àn hūjiàolíng.
If you need anything, press the call bell.
Safety
Example clinical dialogue
nurse
您哪里疼？
Nín nǎlǐ téng?
Where does it hurt?
patient
肚子疼。
Dùzi téng.
My stomach hurts.
nurse
从0到10，您有多疼？
Cóng líng dào shí, nín yǒu duō téng?
From 0 to 10, how bad is the pain?
patient
大概七分。
Dàgài qī fēn.
About a seven.
Common mistakes
- Using 你 (nǐ) instead of 您 (nín) with older patients.
- Using textbook words like 尿液 at the bedside; patients say 小便.
- Waiting for 'yes': patients answer by repeating the verb (疼 / 不疼).
FAQ
What are the most useful Mandarin phrases for nurses?
Introductions, identity checks, observations (blood pressure, temperature), pain questions with a 0 to 10 score, allergy checks, and medication-round phrases, all listed above with pinyin.
How do I make a communication board for Mandarin-speaking patients?
Print the bedside board words above (pain, water, toilet, cold, hot, nausea, can't breathe, call my family) in large Chinese characters with English underneath, so the patient can point.