How to See a Doctor in Chinese
HSK 3
Getting sick abroad is stressful, and explaining symptoms in another language makes it harder. A small set of phrases goes a long way: saying what hurts, how long it's been going on and what you're allergic to.
In many Chinese hospitals you start by registering (挂号) for a department, often at a machine or through the hospital's WeChat account, then see the doctor, pay and pick up medicine at the pharmacy. This page walks through each step with pinyin and a sample dialogue.
Please note: this page is language practice, not medical advice. In an emergency in mainland China, call 120 for an ambulance and get real medical help right away. When you're well, practice this conversation with an AI partner that corrects you.
Key phrases
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我要挂号。 | Wǒ yào guàhào. | I'd like to register (to see a doctor). 挂号 is the first step at most hospitals. |
| 挂哪个科？ | Guà nǎge kē? | Which department? What staff will ask. |
| 我挂内科。 | Wǒ guà nèikē. | Internal medicine, please. 急诊 (jízhěn) is the emergency department. |
| 我不舒服。 | Wǒ bù shūfu. | I don't feel well. |
| 我发烧了。 | Wǒ fāshāo le. | I have a fever. |
| 我头疼。 | Wǒ tóuténg. | I have a headache. |
| 我嗓子疼。 | Wǒ sǎngzi téng. | I have a sore throat. |
| 我一直咳嗽。 | Wǒ yìzhí késou. | I keep coughing. |
| 我肚子疼，还拉肚子。 | Wǒ dùzi téng, hái lā dùzi. | I have a stomachache and diarrhea. |
| 从昨天开始的。 | Cóng zuótiān kāishǐ de. | It started yesterday. |
| 已经三天了。 | Yǐjīng sān tiān le. | It's been three days. |
| 我对青霉素过敏。 | Wǒ duì qīngméisù guòmǐn. | I'm allergic to penicillin. |
| 我没有药物过敏。 | Wǒ méiyǒu yàowù guòmǐn. | I have no drug allergies. |
| 需要验血吗？ | Xūyào yànxuè ma? | Do I need a blood test? |
| 在哪儿缴费？ | Zài nǎr jiǎofèi? | Where do I pay? |
| 在哪儿拿药？ | Zài nǎr ná yào? | Where do I pick up the medicine? The pharmacy is 药房 (yàofáng). |
| 这个药怎么吃？ | Zhège yào zěnme chī? | How should I take this medicine? |
Sample dialogue
Doctor: 你好，哪里不舒服？
Nǐ hǎo, nǎlǐ bù shūfu?
Hello, what seems to be the problem?
You: 我嗓子疼，还有点儿发烧。
Wǒ sǎngzi téng, hái yǒu diǎnr fāshāo.
I have a sore throat and a slight fever.
Doctor: 多长时间了？
Duō cháng shíjiān le?
How long has this been going on?
You: 两天了，从前天晚上开始的。
Liǎng tiān le, cóng qiántiān wǎnshang kāishǐ de.
Two days. It started the night before last.
Doctor: 咳嗽吗？
Késou ma?
Are you coughing?
You: 有一点儿咳嗽。
Yǒu yìdiǎnr késou.
A little.
Doctor: 有没有药物过敏？
Yǒu méiyǒu yàowù guòmǐn?
Do you have any drug allergies?
You: 我对青霉素过敏。
Wǒ duì qīngméisù guòmǐn.
I'm allergic to penicillin.
Doctor: 好，我先给你开点儿药。去缴费，然后到药房拿药。
Hǎo, wǒ xiān gěi nǐ kāi diǎnr yào. Qù jiǎofèi, ránhòu dào yàofáng ná yào.
OK, I'll prescribe some medicine. Go and pay, then pick it up at the pharmacy.
You: 这个药怎么吃？
Zhège yào zěnme chī?
How should I take it?
Doctor: 药房会告诉你。要是过几天还不好，再来看看。
Yàofáng huì gàosu nǐ. Yàoshi guò jǐ tiān hái bù hǎo, zài lái kànkan.
The pharmacy will explain. If you're not better in a few days, come back.
You: 好的，谢谢医生。
Hǎo de, xièxie yīshēng.
OK, thank you, doctor.
Tips
- This page is for language practice only and is not medical advice. In a medical emergency in mainland China, call 120.
- Many hospitals let you register (挂号) at self-service machines or through the hospital's WeChat official account or mini program. Staff at the information desk (咨询台) can help.
- Write your allergies and any regular medication in Chinese and keep them on your phone, so you can show them if you can't find the words.
- Large cities have international clinics and hospital departments for foreign patients, which can be easier if your Chinese is limited.
- Keep your passport with you. Hospitals usually ask for ID to register.
Common mistakes
✗ 我的头是疼。
✓ 我头疼。
Don't put 是 before words like 疼 (hurt). Say the body part, then 疼.
✗ 我有发烧。
✓ 我发烧了。
发烧 is already a verb ('to have a fever'), so you don't need 有.
✗ 我要一个医生。
✓ 我要挂号。
我要一个医生 sounds like ordering a doctor. At a hospital you first register with 挂号, or say 我想看病.
FAQ
What does 挂号 mean?
挂号 (guàhào) means registering to see a doctor in a specific department. It's usually the first step at a Chinese hospital, done at a counter, a machine or online.
How do I describe pain in Chinese?
Say the body part followed by 疼: 头疼 (headache), 嗓子疼 (sore throat), 肚子疼 (stomachache). Add how long with 已经……了, e.g. 已经三天了.
What number do I call in a medical emergency in China?
In mainland China, call 120 for an ambulance. This page is language practice, not medical advice.
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