Health & Hospital

1. 병원에 가야 해요

   Byeong-won-e ga-ya hae-yo

   I need to go to the hospital

   Usage

   Expressing the need to go to the hospital due to illness

   Grammar Note

   "-아/어야 하다" expresses obligation or necessity, meaning "must do".

2. 머리가 아파요

   Meo-ri-ga a-pa-yo

   I have a headache

   Usage

   Describing a headache symptom

   Grammar Note

   Body part + "가/이 아파요" expresses pain. "아파요" is the polite form of "아프다" (to be in pain).

3. 열이 나요

   Yeo-ri na-yo

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Reporting a fever symptom

   Grammar Note

   "열이 나다" is an idiomatic expression meaning "to have a fever". "나다" means "to arise/appear".

4. 이 약 어떻게 먹어요?

   I yak eo-tteo-ke meo-geo-yo?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Asking a pharmacist or doctor how to take medicine

   Grammar Note

   In Korean, taking medicine uses "먹다" (eat). "복용하다" is the more clinical term.

5. 알레르기가 있어요

   Al-le-reu-gi-ga i-sseo-yo

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Informing medical staff or restaurants about an allergy

   Grammar Note

   "알레르기" is a loanword from German "Allergie". "있어요" expresses existence or possession.

6. 약국이 어디예요?

   Yak-gu-gi eo-di-ye-yo?

   Where is the pharmacy?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of the nearest pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "약국" comes from the Sino-Korean "藥局". Many medicines are available without prescription in Korea.

7. 배가 아파요

   Bae-ga a-pa-yo

   I have a stomachache

   Usage

   Describing a stomachache

   Grammar Note

   "배" refers to the stomach/belly in general. The medical term is "복부" (abdomen).

8. 보험이 있어요

   Bo-heom-i i-sseo-yo

   I have insurance

   Usage

   Informing a hospital reception that you have travel insurance

   Grammar Note

   "보험" comes from "保險". Showing your "여행자 보험" (travel insurance) card speeds up registration.

9. 구급차를 불러 주세요

   Gu-geup-cha-reul bul-leo ju-se-yo

   Please call an ambulance

   Usage

   Requesting an ambulance in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   Emergency number in Korea is "119". "구급차" comes from the Sino-Korean "救急車".

10. 처방전이 필요해요?

    Cheo-bang-jeon-i pi-ryo-hae-yo?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Asking whether a prescription is required at the pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    "필요하다" means "to need". "처방전" comes from "處方箋". Over-the-counter medicine needs no prescription.

11. 임신 중

    Im-sin jung

    Pregnant

    Usage

    Show this before any examination — it changes which medicines and X-rays are safe

12. 천식

    Cheon-sik

    Asthma

    Usage

    A pre-existing condition to tell the doctor; an inhaler is "흡입기"

13. 당뇨병

    Dang-nyo-byeong

    Diabetes

    Usage

    A pre-existing condition to tell a doctor or pharmacist

14. 고혈압

    Go-hyeo-rap

    High blood pressure

    Usage

    A condition to declare — it changes which medicines can be prescribed

15. 심장병

    Sim-jang-byeong

    Heart disease

    Usage

    A condition to declare; show it first in an emergency

16. 뇌전증

    Noe-jeon-jeung

    Epilepsy

    Usage

    The current standard term; the older word "간질" is now considered stigmatizing

17. 보험

    Bo-heom

    Insurance

    Usage

    Used at the hospital reception when showing your travel insurance

18. 골절

    Gol-jeol

    Bone fracture

    Usage

    The medical word for a broken bone

19. 호흡곤란

    Ho-heup-gol-lan

    Difficulty breathing

    Usage

    The medical term — usable when you are too short of breath to speak

20. 어지러움

    Eo-ji-reo-um

    Dizziness

    Usage

    For reporting dizziness or light-headedness

21. 출혈

    Chul-hyeol

    Bleeding

    Usage

    Tells staff you are bleeding; point at the site

22. 화상

    Hwa-sang

    Burn (injury)

    Usage

    The medical word for a burn; the same spelling also means "video" (as in "화상통화", video call), so show it while pointing at the injury

23. 상처

    Sang-cheo

    Wound, cut

    Usage

    Covers cuts, scrapes, and open wounds in general

24. 귀

    Gwi

    Ear

    Usage

    For pointing out ear pain or hearing trouble

25. 목

    Mok

    Neck

    Usage

    The neck; note that "목" also means "throat", so use "목구멍" when you mean the throat itself

26. 어깨

    Eo-kkae

    Shoulder

    Usage

    For pointing out shoulder pain or stiffness

27. 무릎

    Mu-reup

    Knee

    Usage

    For pointing out knee pain or injury

28. 손가락

    Son-ga-rak

    Finger

    Usage

    A finger on the hand; a toe is a separate word, "발가락"

29. 피부

    Pi-bu

    Skin

    Usage

    For skin problems such as irritation, sunburn, or eczema

30. 팔

    Pal

    Arm

    Usage

    The arm from shoulder to wrist; the hand itself is "손"

31. 코

    Ko

    Nose

    Usage

    For a blocked nose or a nosebleed

32. 기침

    Gi-chim

    Cough

    Usage

    For reporting a cough, including when asking a pharmacy for cough medicine

33. 가려움

    Ga-ryeo-um

    Itching

    Usage

    For reporting itching; point at where it itches

34. 발진

    Bal-jin

    Rash

    Usage

    For a rash on the skin, including as a sign of an allergic reaction

35. 변비

    Byeon-bi

    Constipation

    Usage

    For asking a pharmacy for something for constipation

36. 생리

    Saeng-ni

    Menstrual period

    Usage

    The everyday Korean word; "월경" is clinical and "그날" is slang. Literally "physiology", but in speech it means only menstruation

37. 혈액형

    Hyeo-rae-kyeong

    Blood type

    Usage

    Asked before a transfusion or surgery; show your own type ("A형", "B형", "O형", "AB형") after it

38. 진단서

    Jin-dan-seo

    Medical certificate

    Usage

    A document in which a doctor certifies the result of an examination; show it when you need one for insurance or sick leave

39. 입원

    I-bwon

    Hospital admission

    Usage

    Being admitted to hospital for treatment; discharge is "퇴원"

40. 오한

    O-han

    Chills

    Usage

    Feeling cold enough to shiver, typically with a fever; use it to report the symptom at a clinic

41. 감기

    Gam-gi

    Common cold

    Usage

    A viral respiratory infection; "감기에 걸렸어요" means "I have caught a cold"

42. 의사를 불러 주세요

    Ui-sa-reul bul-leo ju-se-yo

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Ask people nearby to fetch a doctor when someone is taken ill

    Grammar Note

    Same "…를 불러 주세요" request as "구급차를 불러 주세요" (call an ambulance), with "의사" substituted. "의사" is a homograph that can also mean "intent" or "patriot", but not in a medical setting.

43. 여기가 아파요

    Yeo-gi-ga a-pa-yo

    It hurts here

    Usage

    Point at the painful spot while showing this to a doctor

    Grammar Note

    The same "X-ga a-pa-yo" frame as "거기가 아파요" (it hurts there) and "머리가 아파요" (my head hurts), filled with "여기" (here). Use it together with pointing.

44. 몇 번 토했어요

    Myeot beon to-hae-sseo-yo

    I have vomited several times

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist how many times you have vomited

    Grammar Note

    Same "-hae-sseo-yo" past form as "실망했어요" (I was disappointed). "몇" (how many) appears in "몇 개요?" (how many?) and "번" (times) in "다시 한 번" (once more).

45. 안정이 필요한가요?

    An-jeong-i pi-ryo-han-ga-yo?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Ask the doctor after an examination whether you need to rest

    Grammar Note

    The same "X-i pi-ryo-han-ga-yo?" frame as "예약이 필요한가요?" (is a reservation needed?). "안정" is a homograph that also means "stability"; here it is 安靜, keeping body and mind quiet in order to heal.

46. 기운이 없어요

    Gi-u-ni eop-sseo-yo

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Tell a doctor that you feel weak and listless, from fever or exhaustion

    Grammar Note

    Built on "없어요" (there is none) with "기운" (strength, vigour) as subject. "몸이 나른해요" names the same state; "기운이 없어요" is the wording heard more often in a consultation.

47. 설사

    Seol-sa

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist about diarrhea. The adverb "설사" (even if) is a different word with the same spelling

48. 똥

    Ttong

    Poop

    Usage

    The everyday word, used with children and family. At a clinic or in writing use "대변" (stool). Small children are also told "응가"

49. 오줌

    O-jum

    Pee

    Usage

    The everyday word for pee. At a clinic or in writing use "소변" (urine). Small children are also told "쉬"

50. 설사를 해요

    Seol-sa-reul hae-yo

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea

    Grammar Note

    "설사를 하다" means "to have diarrhea", literally "to do diarrhea". The particle can be dropped: "설사해요".

51. 변비예요

    Byeon-bi-ye-yo

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated

    Grammar Note

    "변비" is constipation. After a noun ending in a vowel, "이에요" contracts to "예요".

52. 오줌이 마려워요

    O-jum-i ma-ryeo-wo-yo

    I need to pee

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need to pee. Ordinary speech, neither stiff nor rude

    Grammar Note

    "마렵다" is an adjective meaning to feel the urge to urinate or defecate, used as "~이/가 마렵다".

53. 똥이 마려워요

    Ttong-i ma-ryeo-wo-yo

    I need to poop

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need to poop. Ordinary speech, neither stiff nor rude. At a clinic "대변이 마려워요" also works

    Grammar Note

    "마렵다" is an adjective meaning to feel the urge to urinate or defecate, used as "~이/가 마렵다".

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