How Do You Speak Korean at a Pharmacy or Hospital? Essential Phrases
Health & Safety Essentials
How Do You Speak Korean at a Pharmacy or Hospital? Essential Phrases
Learn practical Korean for describing symptoms, requesting medicine, asking dosage questions, registering at a clinic, and communicating during medical situations.
Lesson Summary
- 약국 means pharmacy, and 병원 means hospital or clinic.
- Use [body part] + 이/가 아파요 to say where it hurts.
- 진통제 주세요 means “Please give me pain medicine.”
- 하루에 몇 번 먹어야 해요? asks how many times a day to take medicine.
- 진료를 받고 싶어요 means “I would like to see a doctor.”
Quick Answer
Say 배가 아파요 for “My stomach hurts,” 진통제 주세요 for “Please give me pain medicine,” and 진료를 받고 싶어요 for “I would like to see a doctor.”
How Korean Medical Language Works
Use 아파요 to describe pain, 주세요 to request medicine, 몇 번 to ask how many times, and ~고 싶어요 to express what you would like to do.
Falling ill while traveling or living abroad can be stressful, especially when faced with a language barrier. South Korea boasts a modern, highly efficient healthcare system, but knowing essential Korean phrases for the pharmacy or hospital is vital for getting the exact treatment or medication you need quickly and safely.
Whether you need pain relievers for a sudden headache, digestive medicine after trying street food, or need to describe symptoms to a doctor, this comprehensive guide covers medical vocabulary, symptom descriptions, dosage questions, and practical health tips for Korea.
What Korean medical vocabulary should travelers know?
Important words include 약국 for pharmacy, 병원 for hospital or clinic, 약사 for pharmacist, 의사 for doctor, 약 for medicine, 진통제 for painkiller, and 소화제 for digestive medicine.
Start by learning these core terms so you can identify facilities, healthcare professionals, and common over-the-counter medications:
| English Meaning | Hangul | Romanization | Pronunciation Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy | 약국 | yak-guk | Yahk-gook |
| Hospital / Clinic | 병원 | byeong-won | Byeohng-wohn |
| Pharmacist | 약사 | yak-sa | Yahk-sah |
| Doctor | 의사 | ui-sa | Uee-sah |
| Medicine | 약 | yak | Yahk |
| Painkiller | 진통제 | jin-tong-je | Jeen-tong-jeh |
| Digestive Medicine | 소화제 | so-hwa-je | Soh-hwah-jeh |
| Bandage / Patch | 대역 / 파스 | ban-chang-go / pa-seu | Bahn-chahng-goh / Pah-seuh |
Look for signs with the large red or green character 약 (Yak). Pharmacies in South Korea are plentiful in commercial districts, often located on the first floor near hospital buildings or subway exits.
How do you describe symptoms and pain in Korean?
Use [body part] + 이/가 아파요 to say that a body part hurts. For example, 머리가 아파요 means “My head hurts,” and 배가 아파요 means “My stomach hurts.”
To explain where it hurts, use the body part followed by ~가/이 아파요 (~ga/i a-pa-yo), which means "[Body part] hurts."
Describing Pain Location:
• 머리가 아파요.
(Meo-ri-ga a-pa-yo.)
→ "My head hurts / I have a headache."
• 배가 아파요.
(Bae-ga a-pa-yo.)
→ "My stomach hurts."
• 목이 아파요.
(Mok-i a-pa-yo.)
→ "My throat hurts / I have a sore throat."
• 이/치아가 아파요.
(I / Chi-a-ga a-pa-yo.)
→ "My tooth hurts / I have a toothache."
| Symptom | Hangul Expression | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fever | 열이 나요. | Yeol-i na-yo. | I have a fever. |
| Cough | 기침을 해요. | Gi-chim-eul hae-yo. | I am coughing. |
| Runny Nose | 콧물이 나와요. | Kot-mul-i na-wa-yo. | I have a runny nose. |
| Indigestion / Nausea | 체했어요 / 속이 안 좋아요. | Che-haess-eo-yo / Sok-i an jo-a-yo. | I have indigestion / My stomach feels sick. |
| Diarrhea | 설사를 해요. | Seol-sa-reul hae-yo. | I have diarrhea. |
| Dizziness | 어지러워요. | Eo-ji-reo-wo-yo. | I feel dizzy. |
What Korean phrases are useful at a pharmacy?
Use 두통약 주세요 for headache medicine, 감기약 주세요 for cold medicine, 하루에 몇 번 먹어야 해요? to ask dosage frequency, and 졸린 약인가요? to ask whether the medicine causes drowsiness.
Korean pharmacists (약사) are very helpful and will give you over-the-counter medicine directly based on your described symptoms. Here are key phrases to request medicine and ask dosage instructions:
• 두통약 주세요.
(Du-tong-yak ju-se-yo.)
→ "Please give me headache medicine."
• 감기약 주세요.
(Gam-gi-yak ju-se-yo.)
→ "Please give me cold medicine."
• 하루에 몇 번 먹어야 해요?
(Ha-ru-e myeot beon meok-eo-ya hae-yo?)
→ "How many times a day should I take this?"
• 식전에 먹어요, 식후에 먹어요?
(Sik-jeon-e meok-eo-yo, sik-hu-e meok-eo-yo?)
→ "Do I take this before meals or after meals?"
• 졸린 약인가요?
(Jol-lin yak-in-ga-yo?)
→ "Does this medicine cause drowsiness?"
Pharmacies in Korea often prepare daily doses in individual paper paper packets (약봉지). On the outer paper or receipt, you will see instructions like 1일 3회 식후 30분, which means "3 times a day, 30 minutes after meals."
What Korean phrases are useful at a hospital or clinic?
Say 진료를 받고 싶어요 to request a consultation, 영어 가능하신 의사선생님 계신가요? to ask for an English-speaking doctor, and 진료비 영수증 서류 주세요 to request medical receipt documents.
If your illness requires seeing a doctor, visit a local clinic or hospital reception desk. Use these sentences to navigate registration and consultation:
| Situation | Korean Expression | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | 진료를 받고 싶어요. | Jin-ryo-reul bat-go sip-eo-yo. | I would like to see a doctor. |
| Language Help | 영어 가능하신 의사선생님 계신가요? | Yeong-eo ga-neung-ha-sin ui-sa-seon-saeng-nim gye-sin-ga-yo? | Is there an English-speaking doctor? |
| Insurance / Passport | 여권과 여행자 보험이 있습니다. | Yeo-gwon-gwa yeo-haeng-ja bo-heom-i iss-seum-ni-da. | I have my passport and travel insurance. |
| Medical Receipt | 진료비 영수증 서류 주세요. | Jin-ryo-bi yeong-su-jeung seo-ryu ju-se-yo. | Please give me medical receipt documents (for insurance claim). |
What emergency Korean information should travelers remember?
The source article lists 119 for emergency medical assistance. Keep your passport, travel-insurance details, medication list, and accommodation address available when seeking care.
- Emergency Ambulance Number: Dial 119 immediately for emergency medical assistance and ambulance dispatch.
- Medical Translation Service: Call the 1330 Korea Travel Helpline (or dial 1339 for the Korea Disease Control hotline) for 24/7 free translation during medical consultations.
- 24-Hour Convenience Stores: Basic over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol (타이레놀), digestive pills, and fever reducers are sold at convenience stores (GS25, CU, Seven Eleven) late at night when pharmacies are closed.
Korean Travel Health Tips
- Keep your passport, insurance information, medication list, and allergy information available.
- Show written symptom details or medication names when pronunciation is difficult.
- Ask the pharmacist to write down dosage instructions.
- For a serious emergency, use the emergency number identified in the source article.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not take unfamiliar medicine without confirming the name, dose, and timing.
- Do not forget to mention allergies, existing conditions, or current medicines.
- Do not rely only on romanization when showing medical details; Hangul is clearer.
- Confirm current emergency, translation, and medical-service information before travel.
Real-World Korean Medical Scenarios
- Describing stomach pain: 배가 아파요.
- Requesting pain medicine: 진통제 주세요.
- Asking about dosage: 하루에 몇 번 먹어야 해요?
- Requesting an English-speaking doctor: 영어 가능하신 의사선생님 계신가요?
Quick Knowledge Check
Choose the correct Korean phrase for each health situation below.
Question 1: How do you tell a pharmacist "My stomach hurts"?
A) 머리가 아파요 (Meo-ri-ga a-pa-yo)
B) 배가 아파요 (Bae-ga a-pa-yo)
C) 목이 아파요 (Mok-i a-pa-yo)
Question 2: What does "소화제 주세요" mean?
A) Please give me pain relievers.
B) Please give me digestive medicine.
C) Please give me cold medicine.
Question 3: What is the emergency telephone number for an ambulance in South Korea?
A) 112
B) 119
C) 1330
Question 4: What does "식후 30분" mean on a medicine instruction sheet?
A) 30 minutes before meals
B) 30 minutes after meals
C) Take every 30 hours
Show Answers
Answers & Explanations:
1. B) 배가 아파요 — "배" (stomach) + "가 아파요" (hurts).
2. B) Please give me digestive medicine. — "소화제" means digestive pill.
3. B) 119 — Dial 119 for medical emergencies and fire services in Korea.
4. B) 30 minutes after meals — "식후" means after meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy medicine at Korean convenience stores?
Yes, safety over-the-counter medicines (상비약) such as basic pain relievers, fever reducers, cold medicine, and digestive aids are available 24/7 at convenience stores like GS25 and CU.
How do I ask for pain relievers in Korean?
You can say: "진통제 주세요" (Jin-tong-je ju-se-yo), which means "Please give me pain medicine."
Do I need an appointment to visit a clinic in Korea?
Most neighborhood general clinics (의원) accept walk-in patients. You simply present your passport at reception, fill out a basic form, and wait for your turn.
How do I ask for an English-speaking doctor in Seoul?
Say: "영어 가능하신 의사선생님 계신가요?" (Yeong-eo ga-neung-ha-sin ui-sa-seon-saeng-nim gye-sin-ga-yo?). International clinics at major hospitals like Severance or Seoul National University Hospital also have dedicated English medical teams.
How do I get medical expenses reimbursed by travel insurance?
Ask reception for an itemized receipt and medical certificate by saying: "진료비 영수증과 서류 작성해 주세요" (Jin-ryo-bi yeong-su-jeung-gwa seo-ryu jak-seong-hae ju-se-yo).
Conclusion
Staying healthy while traveling gives you peace of mind to enjoy your trip. By practicing these Korean phrases for the pharmacy or hospital, you can confidently explain your symptoms (배가 아파요), ask for the right medication (진통제 주세요), and navigate medical situations safely anywhere in South Korea. Save this guide for quick reference during your travels!
