Korean Dictionary
How to say "Sanatorium / Convalescent Home" in Korean
“Sanatorium / Convalescent Home” in Korean is 요양원 (pronounced "yoyanwon").
요양원
yoyanwon
Usage & Context
요양원 is a long-term care facility for elderly or chronically ill patients in Korea. With Korea's rapidly aging population 요양원 demand has surged. Korean national health insurance provides partial coverage for 요양원 care making it more accessible for families.
Example Sentence
어머니가 더 이상 혼자 지내기 어려워서 요양원에 모셨어요.
My mother could no longer live alone so we moved her to a care home.
How to use 요양원 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Sanatorium / Convalescent Home” is 요양원, romanized as yoyanwon.
Usage tip
When describing symptoms, combine the word with where it hurts, when it started, and how severe it is.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 요양원.
Pronunciation Guide
요 (yo) sounds like 'yo' in 'yogurt'. 양 (yang) sounds like 'yang' in 'yang-yang'. 원 (won) sounds like 'won' in 'won'. Combine them as 'yo-yang-won' with fairly even stress.
More Example Sentences
Talking about a family member's post-hospital care.
할머니가 퇴원하신 후 요양원에서 회복 중이세요.
Grandma is recovering at a convalescent home after being discharged from the hospital.
Discussing trends in elderly care facilities.
요즘은 좋은 시설의 요양원도 많이 생겼어요.
These days, many care homes with good facilities have also emerged.
A family making a difficult decision about elderly parents.
부모님을 요양원에 모시는 것에 대해 가족들이 논의 중이에요.
The family is discussing moving our parents to a care home.
Cultural Context
요양원 (yoyanwon) are long-term care facilities that have become increasingly important in Korea due to its rapidly aging population and changing family structures. While historically there might have been a stigma associated with placing elderly parents in such homes, it is now more accepted as a practical necessity, especially for those requiring specialized care. National health insurance provides partial coverage, making these facilities more accessible to families.
Editorial note
We review entries like 요양원 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
요양원에 모시다
to move someone (respectfully) to a care home
요양원 생활
life at a care home
요양원 비용
care home costs
Related Expressions
요양병원
yoyangbyeongwon
nursing hospital (more medicalized)
실버타운
silbeotaun
silver town (retirement community, often more upscale)
노인 복지
noin bokji
elder welfare
장기 요양
janggi yoyang
long-term care
More Health & Medical Words
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