병원 vs 클리닉
Korean word comparison
Listen to 병원
Listen to 클리닉
| 병원 | 클리닉 |
|---|---|
BYEONG-won noun | keul-li-nik (kuh-lin-ik) noun |
| hospital; a medical facility where people receive diagnosis and treatment | clinic (loanword); often a private, specialized outpatient practice or branded medical office |
How they differ
클리닉 is a loanword often used for specialized outpatient practices (e.g., dermatology, cosmetic) or for branding; 병원 is the general Korean word for a hospital and suggests broader, institutional medical services including inpatient care.
When to use each
When to use 병원: Use 병원 when referring to a general hospital or when inpatient/emergency capabilities are relevant.
When to use 클리닉: Use 클리닉 when referring to a privately run, specialty outpatient practice or a branded medical service.
Side-by-side examples
- 큰 사고로 여러 사람이 병원에 입원했다.
(Several people were hospitalized after the major accident.) - 그 피부과 클리닉은 레이저 시술을 전문으로 한다.
(That dermatology clinic specializes in laser procedures.)
Register & nuance: More trendy/commercial; common in advertising and names of private specialty practices; less formal than 의료기관 but acceptable in everyday speech.