総合病院(そうごうびょういん)

A 総合病院(そうごうびょういん) is a hospital that houses multiple specialized departments such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and orthopedics. In Japan, general hospitals typically have 100 or more beds and are distinguished from smaller clinics (診療所(しんりょうじょ)).

Common collocations

• 総合病院(そうごうびょういん)に通(かよ)う — to attend a general hospital regularly
• 総合病院(そうごうびょういん)に入院(にゅういん)する — to be admitted to a general hospital
• 総合病院(そうごうびょういん)で手術(しゅじゅつ)を受(う)ける — to have surgery at a general hospital

Similar words

• 診療所(しんりょうじょ) / クリニック — smaller clinic, often single-specialty
• 大学病院(だいがくびょういん) — university hospital, affiliated with a medical school
• 専門病院(せんもんびょういん) — specialized hospital focusing on one area

Cultural note

Japan's healthcare system encourages patients to visit a local clinic first and get a referral (紹介状(しょうかいじょう)) before going to a general hospital. Since 2016, many general hospitals charge an extra fee (選定療養費(せんていりょうようひ)) for patients who come without a referral.