Korean Vocabulary for Health and Medicine
The ability to communicate effectively in a medical setting is crucial, especially if you are living in or traveling to a foreign country. Understanding basic health and medical vocabulary in Korean can be a lifesaver—literally. This article aims to equip English-speaking learners with essential Korean terms and phrases related to health and medicine. Whether you need to describe symptoms, understand a doctor’s instructions, or purchase medication, this guide has you covered.
Basic Health Vocabulary
Before diving into more specific medical terms, let’s start with some foundational vocabulary related to health and the human body.
– **건강** (geongang) – Health
– **병원** (byeong-won) – Hospital
– **약국** (yakguk) – Pharmacy
– **의사** (uisa) – Doctor
– **간호사** (ganhosa) – Nurse
– **환자** (hwanja) – Patient
– **응급실** (eung-geupsil) – Emergency Room
– **진찰** (jinchal) – Medical Examination
– **치료** (chilyo) – Treatment
– **수술** (susul) – Surgery
Parts of the Body
Knowing the names of different body parts in Korean can be especially useful when you need to describe symptoms or injuries.
– **머리** (meori) – Head
– **눈** (nun) – Eye
– **코** (ko) – Nose
– **입** (ip) – Mouth
– **귀** (gwi) – Ear
– **목** (mok) – Neck
– **어깨** (eokkae) – Shoulder
– **팔** (pal) – Arm
– **손** (son) – Hand
– **가슴** (gaseum) – Chest
– **배** (bae) – Stomach
– **등** (deung) – Back
– **다리** (dari) – Leg
– **발** (bal) – Foot
Common Symptoms
Being able to accurately describe your symptoms can help medical professionals provide the best possible care. Here are some common symptoms in Korean:
– **열** (yeol) – Fever
– **기침** (gichim) – Cough
– **두통** (dutong) – Headache
– **복통** (boktong) – Stomachache
– **구토** (guto) – Vomiting
– **설사** (seolsa) – Diarrhea
– **변비** (byeonbi) – Constipation
– **피로** (pilo) – Fatigue
– **어지러움** (eojireoum) – Dizziness
– **통증** (tongjeung) – Pain
– **가려움증** (garyeoumjeung) – Itching
– **발진** (baljin) – Rash
Medical Conditions and Diseases
Here are some common medical conditions and diseases in Korean. Knowing these can be especially important if you have a pre-existing condition or need to discuss family medical history.
– **감기** (gamgi) – Cold
– **독감** (dokgam) – Flu
– **천식** (cheonsik) – Asthma
– **알레르기** (allereugi) – Allergy
– **당뇨병** (dangnyobyeong) – Diabetes
– **고혈압** (gohyeolap) – High Blood Pressure
– **심장병** (simjangbyeong) – Heart Disease
– **암** (am) – Cancer
– **간염** (ganyeom) – Hepatitis
– **간경변증** (gangyeongbyeonjeung) – Cirrhosis
– **뇌졸중** (noejoljung) – Stroke
– **결핵** (gyeolhaek) – Tuberculosis
– **폐렴** (pneumonia) – Pneumonia
Medications and Treatments
When it comes to purchasing medication or discussing treatment options, these words will come in handy:
– **약** (yak) – Medicine
– **처방전** (cheobangjeon) – Prescription
– **진통제** (jintongje) – Painkiller
– **항생제** (hangsaengje) – Antibiotic
– **백신** (baeksin) – Vaccine
– **주사** (jusa) – Injection
– **물약** (mul-yak) – Liquid Medicine
– **알약** (al-yak) – Pill
– **연고** (yeongo) – Ointment
– **붕대** (bungdae) – Bandage
– **체온계** (cheonge) – Thermometer
– **혈압계** (hyeolap-gye) – Blood Pressure Monitor
Useful Phrases
When visiting a hospital or a pharmacy, being able to use complete sentences can be very helpful. Here are some useful phrases:
– **저는 아파요** (jeoneun apayo) – I am sick.
– **어디가 아프세요?** (eodiga apuseyo?) – Where does it hurt?
– **머리가 아파요** (meoriga apayo) – I have a headache.
– **배가 아파요** (baega apayo) – I have a stomachache.
– **열이 있어요** (yeori isseoyo) – I have a fever.
– **기침이 나요** (gichimi nayo) – I have a cough.
– **처방전이 필요해요** (cheobangjeoni pilyohaeyo) – I need a prescription.
– **이 약을 복용해도 돼요?** (i yageul bok-yonghaedo dwaeyo?) – Can I take this medicine?
– **응급실로 가야 해요** (eung-geupsillo gaya haeyo) – I need to go to the emergency room.
– **저는 알레르기가 있어요** (jeoneun allereugi-ga isseoyo) – I have an allergy.
Interactions with Medical Professionals
Understanding the types of medical professionals you might encounter can help you navigate a hospital or clinic more effectively.
– **내과 의사** (naegwa uisa) – Internist
– **소아과 의사** (soagwa uisa) – Pediatrician
– **치과 의사** (chigwa uisa) – Dentist
– **정신과 의사** (jeongsingwa uisa) – Psychiatrist
– **산부인과 의사** (sanbuingwa uisa) – Obstetrician/Gynecologist
– **피부과 의사** (pibugwa uisa) – Dermatologist
– **안과 의사** (angwa uisa) – Ophthalmologist
– **이비인후과 의사** (ibiinhu-gwa uisa) – ENT Specialist
– **수의사** (suuisa) – Veterinarian
Emergency Situations
In case of emergencies, knowing specific terms and phrases can be crucial. Here are some that might be useful:
– **도와주세요!** (dowajuseyo!) – Help!
– **긴급 상황이에요** (gingeub sanghwang-ieyo) – It’s an emergency.
– **119에 전화해 주세요** (119-e jeonhwahae juseyo) – Please call 119 (the emergency number in South Korea).
– **구급차가 필요해요** (gugeupchaga pilyohaeyo) – I need an ambulance.
– **사고가 났어요** (sagoga nasseoyo) – There has been an accident.
– **의식을 잃었어요** (uisigeul ilh-eosseoyo) – Someone has lost consciousness.
– **피가 나요** (piga nayo) – I am bleeding.
– **뼈가 부러졌어요** (ppyeoga bureojyeosseoyo) – I think I’ve broken a bone.
Health-Related Conversations
Being able to discuss health matters in more detail can help you understand your condition better and make informed decisions. Here are some extended conversation examples:
**Doctor:** 어디가 아프세요? (eodiga apuseyo?)
**Patient:** 배가 너무 아파요. (baega neomu apayo) – My stomach hurts a lot.
**Doctor:** 언제부터 아프셨어요? (eonjebuteo apuseoseoyo?) – Since when have you been feeling this way?
**Patient:** 어제부터요. (eojebuteoyo) – Since yesterday.
**Doctor:** 다른 증상도 있나요? (dareun jeungsangdo innayo?) – Do you have any other symptoms?
**Patient:** 네, 열이 나고 설사도 해요. (ne, yeori nago seolsado haeyo) – Yes, I have a fever and diarrhea.
Checking into a Hospital
When checking into a hospital, you may need to provide personal information and describe your symptoms. Here are some useful phrases:
– **입원하고 싶어요** (ibwonhago sipeoyo) – I want to be admitted to the hospital.
– **보험이 있어요** (boheomi isseoyo) – I have insurance.
– **신분증을 보여 주세요** (sinbunjeungeul boyeo juseyo) – Please show me your ID.
– **어떤 증상이 있으세요?** (eotteon jeungsangi isseuseyo?) – What are your symptoms?
– **진단서를 받고 싶어요** (jindanseoreul batgo sipeoyo) – I want to get a diagnosis.
Additional Tips for Learning Medical Korean
– **Flashcards:** Create flashcards for each term and phrase. This can help with memorization and quick recall.
– **Practice Conversations:** Practice speaking with a language partner or tutor. Role-playing different scenarios can be very effective.
– **Listening Exercises:** Listen to Korean medical dramas or health-related podcasts to get used to the terminology.
– **Reading Materials:** Read health articles or medical journals in Korean to see how these terms are used in context.
– **Mobile Apps:** Utilize language learning apps that focus on medical vocabulary and phrases.
In conclusion, having a grasp of basic health and medical vocabulary in Korean can make a significant difference in ensuring you receive the care you need. Practice these terms regularly, and don’t hesitate to seek help from a language partner or tutor to improve your proficiency. With these tools in your linguistic arsenal, you’ll be better prepared to handle medical situations in a Korean-speaking environment.
