Knowing how to talk about your health and visit a hospital is very important when living or traveling in Korea. Whether you have a cold, a fever, or need to see a doctor for something serious, being able to explain your symptoms and understand medical advice will make the process smoother and less stressful.
In this lesson, we will learn useful vocabulary, common phrases, and cultural tips to help you communicate effectively at clinics and hospitals.
Essential Vocabulary for Health and Medical Situations
- 아프다 (apeuda) – To be sick / hurt
- 통증 (tongjeung) – Pain
- 열 (yeol) – Fever
- 감기 (gamgi) – Cold
- 두통 (dutong) – Headache
- 기침 (gichim) – Cough
- 약 (yak) – Medicine
- 병원 (byeongwon) – Hospital / Clinic
- 의사 (uisa) – Doctor
- 진료하다 (jinryohada) – To treat / examine
- 예약하다 (yeyakhada) – To make an appointment
- 증상 (jeungsang) – Symptom
Common Phrases to Use at the Hospital
- 저는 몸이 아파요. – I’m feeling sick.
- 열이 있어요. – I have a fever.
- 머리가 아파요. – I have a headache.
- 기침을 해요. – I have a cough.
- 약을 처방해 주세요. – Please prescribe medicine.
- 진료 예약을 하고 싶어요. – I want to make an appointment.
- 증상이 심해요. – My symptoms are severe.
Example Dialogues
A: 어디가 아프세요?
B: 목이 아프고 열이 있어요.
A: 언제부터 아프셨어요?
B: 이틀 전부터 아팠어요.
A: 약을 드세요.
B: 감사합니다.
Grammar Tips
Use “~이/가 아프다” to say which part hurts. For example, “머리가 아파요” means “My head hurts.” When talking about symptoms, use “~이/가 있어요” for “I have ~.”
Cultural Notes
Korean hospitals often require appointments for non-emergency visits. It’s polite to make an appointment (“예약하다”) before going. Also, doctors may give detailed instructions, so don’t hesitate to ask them to repeat or explain again if you don’t understand.
Practice Challenge
Practice describing your symptoms in Korean and role-play hospital visits with a language partner to build confidence.
Next Up
Next lesson will focus on talking about hobbies and leisure activities in Korean.
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