Meaning and Usage
"看病" (かんびょう) specifically refers to the act of nursing or taking care of a sick person, often a family member or close acquaintance. It involves providing physical care and emotional support during illness.
Common Contexts
This word is frequently used when talking about caring for someone at home or visiting a hospital to assist a patient. It implies a hands-on, attentive role rather than just visiting casually.
Collocations and Patterns
- 看病に行く: to go nurse or care for a patient
- 看病する: to nurse or take care of someone
- 看病のために休む: to take time off work to nurse someone
Register and Politeness
"看病" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is common in everyday conversation and written language.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "看病" with "看護" (かんご), which is more formal and often used for professional nursing. "看病" usually implies informal or family care, so use it when referring to personal caregiving rather than professional nursing.