输液 (shū yè) literally means 'to transport liquid' — 输 (shū) means 'to transport, to convey', and 液 (yè) means 'liquid, fluid'. In medical contexts, it specifically refers to intravenous infusion: the process of delivering fluids, nutrients, or medications directly into a vein using a needle and drip system. It is a common clinical procedure used for hydration, antibiotic treatment, chemotherapy, or blood transfusion.

This term is widely used in hospitals, clinics, and everyday conversation when discussing illness or recovery. While technically precise, 输液 is not formal jargon — patients, families, and doctors all use it routinely. It’s often shortened colloquially to 滴注 (dī zhù) or even just 滴 (dī), but 输液 remains the standard, universally understood term across mainland China, Taiwan, and other Mandarin-speaking regions.