‘疗养’ (liáo yǎng) is a compound noun meaning ‘convalescence’ or ‘recuperative care’—the process of recovering health after illness, injury, or exhaustion through rest, medical supervision, and supportive environments like hot springs, mountain resorts, or seaside sanatoriums. The first character 疗 (liáo) means ‘to treat’ or ‘to cure’, while the second character 养 (yǎng) means ‘to nurture’, ‘to nourish’, or ‘to maintain’. Together, they emphasize not just passive rest but active, holistic restoration of physical and mental well-being.

This term is commonly used in formal, medical, or institutional contexts—such as government-sponsored recuperation programs for workers, hospital discharge plans, or travel brochures promoting health resorts. It implies a structured, often time-limited period of recovery, distinct from casual rest or general wellness activities. While it can appear in everyday speech, it carries a slightly formal or clinical tone and is rarely used for minor ailments or short breaks.