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Patient participation in healthcare activities is key to producing successful patient‐centered care. However, little is known about both nurses' and patients' perspectives regarding patient participation in East Asia. This paper compared and contrasted perspectives of patient participation in healthcare activities between nurses and patients, using a qualitative study with a purposive sample of 39 nurses and 15 patients. A semi‐structured interview was applied to focus groups for nurses, and to face‐to‐face interviews for patients. Content analysis was utilized to analyze the data, and common themes and subthemes were identified showing three similarities (authoritative culture, participation behaviors, and obstacles to participation), and two differences (sources of acquiring patient‐related health information, and responsible party). Nurses and patients did not entirely view participation in healthcare activities congruently. Relevant clinical practices are also suggested, including respecting patients' autonomy, nurses' using layman's language for explanations, patients' understanding the meaning behind their participation behaviors, recognizing obstacles faced in enhancing patient participation with adjusted nursing workload, actively providing needed health information, and leading patients to realize that they will be responsible for their health behaviors after discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]