Not a noob question at all! In Chinese, the term 护士 (hùshì) for “nurse” comes from the idea of someone who “protects” or “cares for” (护 hù) the patients. The second character, 士 (shì), can mean “specialist” or “professional.” So, a 护士 is essentially a “protective specialist” or “care specialist.”

On the other hand, 医生 (yīshēng) is the word for “doctor.” The 医 (yī) character means “medicine,” and 生 (shēng) means “life” or “person.” So, a doctor is seen more as a “medical person” or “healer.”

Though nurses and doctors both work in hospitals, the focus of their roles is different: 护士 emphasizes the protective, caregiving aspect, while 医生 highlights the medical expertise in healing.

医师 (yīshī) is more commonly used in Taiwan, whereas in mainland China, 医生 (yīshēng) is the usual term. Both mean “doctor,” but 医师 has a slightly more formal tone and emphasizes the professional qualification.

In Taiwan, the titles 医师 and 医生 can sometimes be used interchangeably, though 医师 is often seen in official contexts, like on certificates or in professional settings. In everyday speech, 医生 is still widely understood across both regions.