<blockquote>
  <p>患 = contracted (of disease); 者= the one who</p>
  
  <p><strong>患者</strong> = the one who contracted (disease) = <strong>patient</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<ul>
<li><p>The term 患者 describes 'a patient of a specific disease'. For example: '癌症<strong>患者</strong>' (cancer <strong>patient</strong>), '皮膚病<strong>患者</strong>'(skin disease <strong>patient</strong>). </p></li>
<li><p>We cannot use '患者' without referencing the disease</p></li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>病人</strong> = <strong>sick person</strong>/ <strong>patient</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<ul>
<li><p>The term <strong>病人</strong> is a general term for '<strong>sick people/ patient</strong>'. You can use this term to designate a unwell person without mentioning the disease. For example "病人需要更多的休息" (sick people/ patients need more rest). *-<em>doesn't matter what kind of sickness</em></p></li>
<li><p>It can be used interchangeably with 患者 when referring a <strong>patient</strong> of a particular disease. For example 癌症<strong>病人</strong> (cancer <strong>patient</strong>), 皮膚病<strong>病人</strong>(skin disease <strong>patient</strong>)  </p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-24T17:17:35.510Z
re:"We cannot use '患者' without referencing the disease",   in
the sense that 患者 implies some disease which however need not be mentioned, maybe it is a matter of degree, mentioning disease more likely with 患者 ):  cf. jukuu for 患者，
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-25T01:14:55.867Z
The name of a  particular disease usually accompany the term 患者. However, You don't need to mention the sickness in the same sentence, if it was mentioned previously in the same conversation.
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-24T12:50:45.990Z
2017-06-24T13:00:50.220Z
2017-06-24T13:00:50.220Z
Tang Ho
<p>Both 患者 and 病人 can mean patient. When would you prefer one over the other?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-24T12:32:28.797Z
jukuu's samples seem to suggest that particular ailments/diseases can be  used attributively with both   **患者**  : 休克患者,精神病患者，霍乱患者，肺脓肿患者,慢性病患者,癌症患者
**病人**  :肥胖病人,糖尿病人,心血管病人,晚期病人, but 病人 seems
to be used more often w/o mentioning any particular disease, and  has greater usage frequency,
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-01T09:17:12.757Z
Somewhat like the difference between "job" and "career".
iBug
<difference>
Is there a difference between 患者 and 病人?
# Is there a difference between 患者 and 病人?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-24)

Both 患者 and 病人 can mean patient. When would you prefer one over the other?

**Tags:** difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: jukuu's samples seem to suggest that particular ailments/diseases can be  used attributively with both   **患者**  : 休克患者,精神病患者，霍乱患者，肺脓肿患者,慢性病患者,癌症患者 **病人**  :肥胖病人,糖尿病人,心血管病人,晚期病人, but 病人 seems to be used more often w/o mentioning any particular disease, and  has greater usage frequency,  
> **username_2**: Somewhat like the difference between "job" and "career".  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-06-24. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

> 患 = contracted (of disease); 者= the one who
>
> **患者** = the one who contracted (disease) = **patient**

* The term 患者 describes 'a patient of a specific disease'. For example: '癌症**患者**' (cancer **patient**), '皮膚病**患者**'(skin disease **patient**).
* We cannot use '患者' without referencing the disease

> **病人** = **sick person**/ **patient**

* The term **病人** is a general term for '**sick people/ patient**'. You can use this term to designate a unwell person without mentioning the disease. For example "病人需要更多的休息" (sick people/ patients need more rest). \*-*doesn't matter what kind of sickness*
* It can be used interchangeably with 患者 when referring a **patient** of a particular disease. For example 癌症**病人** (cancer **patient**), 皮膚病**病人**(skin disease **patient**)

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: re:"We cannot use '患者' without referencing the disease",   in the sense that 患者 implies some disease which however need not be mentioned, maybe it is a matter of degree, mentioning disease more likely with 患者 ):  cf. jukuu for 患者，  
> **username_3**: The name of a  particular disease usually accompany the term 患者. However, You don't need to mention the sickness in the same sentence, if it was mentioned previously in the same conversation.  

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