A Trip to the Doctor
Updated: Feb 6, 2019
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こんにちは, everyone! Welcome back to Teach Me Japanese.
Today's lesson is a fun one, but it's also essential for life in Japan. We are going to be learning the phrases and words that you need to know when you go to the doctor or
drugstore in Japan.
Let's get started! (•ө•)♡
TODAY'S VOCABULARY
noun
頭（あたま）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- head
アレルギー ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ allergy
胃（い）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- stomach
医者（いしゃ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- doctor
痛み（いたみ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- pain
胃腸炎（いちょうえん）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- stomach bug
インフル・インフルエンザ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- flu/influenza
うつ病（うつびょう）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- depression
お腹（おなか）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- stomach; belly
風邪（かぜ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- cold
患者（かんじゃ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ patient
肝臓（かんぞう）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ liver
癌（がん）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- cancer
傷（きず）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- wound
筋肉（きんにく）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ muscle
嚏（くしゃみ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sneeze
薬（くすり）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- medicine
クリニック ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- clinic
具合（ぐあい）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- condition
血圧（けつあつ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- blood pressure
血液検査（けつえきけんさ）----------------------------------------------------------------------- blood test
健康（けんこう）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ health
健康診断（けんこうしんだん）------------------------------------------------------------------- physical examination
健康保険（けんこうほけん）------------------------------------------------------------------------ health insurance
検査（けんさ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- test; examination
下痢（げり）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- diarrhea
ゲロ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- vomit
抗生物質（こうせいぶっしつ）------------------------------------------------------------------- antibiotics
骨折（こっせつ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ bone fracture
手術（しゅじゅつ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- surgery
症状（しょうじょう）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- symptoms
食欲（しょくよく）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- appetite
処方箋（しょほうせん）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- prescription
心臓（しんぞう）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ heart
身長（しんちょう）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- height
精神病（せいしんびょう）----------------------------------------------------------------------------- mental illness
整体（せいたい）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ chiropractic
性病（せいびょう）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STD
生理（せいり）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- period; menstruation
咳（せき）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- cough
頭痛（ずつう）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- headache
体重（たいじゅう）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- body weight
血（ち）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- blood
鎮痛剤（ちんつうざい）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- painkiller
ドラッグストア ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- drug store
ニキビ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- acne
入院（にゅういん）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- hospitalization
尿検査（にょうけんさ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- urine analysis
妊娠（にんしん）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- pregnancy
妊娠検査（にんしんけんさ）------------------------------------------------------------------------- pregnancy test
熱（ねつ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- fever
捻挫（ねんざ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ sprain
喉（のど）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- throat
脳味噌（のうみそ）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- brains
歯（は）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- tooth
肺（はい）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- lung
歯医者（はいしゃ）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- dentist
吐き気（はきけ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ nausea
鼻（はな）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- nose
鼻水（はなみず）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- nasal mucus; runny nose
病院（びょういん）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- hospital
病気（びょうき）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- illness
骨（ほね）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- bone
膀胱炎（ぼうこうえん）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UTI
虫歯（むしば）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ cavity
薬局（やっきょく）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- pharmacy
レーディスクリニック -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ladie's clinic (gynecology)
い adjective
痛い（いたい）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ hurt; painful
痒い（かゆい）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ itchy
気持ちが悪い（きもちがわるい）--------------------------------------------------------------- nauseous
悪い（わるい）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ bad
な adjective
元気(な)（げんき）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- lively; healthy
病気(な)（びょうき）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sickly
う verb
痛む（いたむ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to hurt; be in pain
生む（うむ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to give birth
効く（きく）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be effective
出す（だす）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to prescribe (薬を）
詰まる（つまる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be stuffed up (nose)
治す（なおす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to cure; heal
治る（なおる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to be cured; be healed
飲む（のむ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to take (medicine)
計る（はかる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to measure
吐く（はく）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to throw up
ひく（ひく）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to catch a cold
休む（やすむ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to rest
る verb
折れる（おれる）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to break (bone)
する verb
入院する（にゅういんする）-------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be hospitalized
妊娠する（にんしんする）------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to get pregnant
The Common Cold
To say "catch a cold" in Japanese is simply:
風邪をひく。
--->かぜをひく。
---------->to catch a cold
Here are some more example sentences using 風邪をひく：
風邪をひいたから、お母さんに薬を買ってもらった。
--->かぜをひいたから、おかあさんにくすりをかってもらった。
---------->I caught a cold, so my mom bought some medicine for me.
風邪をひいても、仕事を休むひとは中々いないね。
--->かぜをひいても、しごとをやすむひとはなかなかいないね。
---------->Even if they catch a cold, there's not many people that would take a day off.
髪の毛をちゃんと乾かさないと風邪をひきますよ。
--->かみのけをちゃんとかわかさないとかぜをひきますよ。
----------->If you don't dry your hair properly, you'll catch a cold.
Some symptoms, or 症状（しょうじょう）, of the common cold include:
熱（ねつ）- fever
熱がある
--->ねつがある
---------->to have a fever
咳（せき）- cough
咳が出る
--->せきがでる
---------->to cough
嚏（くしゃみ）- sneeze
嚏が出る
--->くしゃみがでる
----------->to sneeze
鼻水（はなみず）- nasal mucus; runny nose
鼻水が止まらない
はなみずがとまらない
nose wont stop running
頭痛（ずつう）- headache
頭痛がある
ずつうがある
to have a headache
喉の痛み（のどのいたみ）- sore throat
喉が痛い
のどがいたい
to have a sore throat
吐き気（はきけ）- nausea
吐き気がする
はきけがする
to feel nauseous
*Cultural Fact*
When Japanese people fall ill, often times they will wear a surgical mask to prevent others from getting sick. But they also may wear it to prevent themselves from getting sick, or even
as a fashion statement! When wearing a mask as a fashion statement, they tend to be reusable and personalized with their own cool or cute designs.
Other Illnesses and Issues
Of course, there are other ailments or medical issues that you may be faced with when in Japan. Some of the most common are:
インフル・インフルエンザ - the flu
胃腸炎（いちょうえん）- stomach bug
虫歯（むしば）- cavity
傷（きず）- wound
骨折（こっせつ）- broken/fractured bone
膀胱炎（ぼうこうえん）- urinary tract infection
妊娠（にんしん）- pregnancy
子宮内膜症（しきゅうないまくしょう）- endometriosis
性病（せいびょう）- sexually transmitted illness/disease
ヘルニア - hernia
うつ病（うつびょう）- depression
精神病（せいしんびょう）- mental illness
And some more useful phrases!
～が痛い。
--->～がいたい。
----------->(insert body part here) hurts.
～が痒い。
--->～がかゆい。
------------>(insert body part here) itches.
生理が遅れている。
--->せいりがおくれている。
----------->My period is late.
下痢が止まらない。
--->げりがとまらない。
----------->I have diarrhea that won't stop.
具合が悪い。
--->ぐあいがわるい。
------------>I'm sick./My condition is not good.
血圧が高い/低い。
--->けつあつがたかい/ひくい。
----------->My blood pressure is high/low.
食欲がない。
--->しょくよくがない。
----------->I have no appetite.
At the Doctor
When you go to the doctor in Japan, it can be an anxiety-inducing experience, especially
if it is your first time. But be rest assured, visits to a clinic（クリニック） in Japan are
usually faster and easier than you would expect.
Your first step is going to the front desk and checking in. The nurses at the desk will give
you a medical questionnaire called a 問診表（もんしんひょう）for you to fill out
explaining your symptoms（しょうじょう）and medical history. Be prepared to also
provide your address (or where you are currently staying) and bring your resident card
and/or passport with you.
Usually there will be English versions of these forms as well, but you may feel more comfortable to have a Japanese friend accompany you, just in case.
Once you have submitted your 問診表（もんしんひょう）, you will wait for what is
usually a short period of time. Depending on your reason for coming, you may be
directed to undergo some form of testing（けんさ） before speaking with the doctor
or you may go directly to consult with the doctor.
Some common tests that may be run:
妊娠検査（にんしんけんさ）- pregnancy test
血液検査（けつえきけんさ）- blood test
尿検査（にょうけんさ）- urinalysis
You may have your weight （たいじゅう）and height （しんちょう）measured and recorded, but usually only if you are simply there for a routine physical（けんこうしんだん）.
Once the doctor has assessed your symptoms and test results, he/she will give you a
diagnosis and will prescribe you medication（くすり）. Most commonly you will be prescribed antibiotics（こうせいぶっしつ）and/or painkillers（ちんつうざい）