'护理' (hù lǐ) is a compound noun meaning 'nursing' or 'care'—especially professional, hands-on care for people who are ill, injured, elderly, or recovering. The first character 护 (hù) means 'to protect' or 'to guard', and the second 理 (lǐ) means 'to manage', 'to handle', or 'to attend to'. Together, they convey the idea of actively safeguarding and tending to someone’s physical well-being through skilled, compassionate attention.

This term is widely used in medical and healthcare contexts—not just for hospital nursing but also for home-based elder care, postoperative recovery support, and long-term care for chronic conditions. It implies trained, systematic care rather than casual help; it’s more formal and specific than general words like 照顾 (zhàogù). While occasionally used metaphorically (e.g., plant nursing), its primary domain is human health and clinical practice.