If you do not speak Chinese, a hospital visit can feel intimidating. This article gives you a practical bilingual list of the words and phrases you will actually need: body parts, symptoms, departments, and medicine-related words. Write them down, save them on your phone, and show them to staff.
This is a language aid, not a medical tool. It cannot replace a real interpreter; for complex cases, ask the hospital international department or a translation service. In an emergency, call 120 first.
How to Describe Symptoms
Doctors need three things: what hurts, where, and how long / how severe. Use short sentences and point to the body. Useful phrases:
- "I have a headache." - 我头疼。(Wǒ tóuténg.)
- "My stomach hurts." - 我肚子疼。(Wǒ dùzi téng.)
- "I have had a fever since last night." - 我从昨晚开始发烧。(Wǒ cóng zuówǎn kāishǐ fāshāo.)
- "I have been coughing for three days." - 我咳嗽三天了。(Wǒ késou sān tiān le.)
- "I have diarrhea / I vomited." - 我拉肚子 / 我吐了。(Wǒ lādùzi / Wǒ tù le.)
- "I am allergic to penicillin." - 我对青霉素过敏。(Wǒ duì qīngméisù guòmǐn.)
- "I take this medicine." (show photo) - 我吃这个药。(Wǒ chī zhège yào.)
- "I feel worse." - 我感觉更糟了。(Wǒ gǎnjué gèng zāo le.)
Useful Bilingual Vocabulary
- Registration: 挂号 (guàhào) - to register. "I want to register." - 我要挂号。(Wǒ yào guàhào.)
- Department: 内科 (nèikē) internal medicine; 外科 (wàikē) surgery; 儿科 (érkē) pediatrics; 妇科 (fùkē) gynecology; 眼科 (yǎnkē) ophthalmology; 耳鼻喉科 (ěrbíhóu kē) ENT; 口腔科 (kǒuqiāng kē) dentistry; 皮肤科 (pífū kē) dermatology; 急诊 (jízhěn) emergency.
- Symptoms: 发烧 (fāshāo) fever; 咳嗽 (késou) cough; 流鼻涕 (liú bítì) runny nose; 喉咙痛 (hóulóng tòng) sore throat; 胸痛 (xiōngtòng) chest pain; 头晕 (tóuyūn) dizziness; 恶心 (ěxīn) nausea; 拉肚子 (lā dùzi) diarrhea; 便秘 (biànmì) constipation; 皮疹 (pízhěn) rash; 伤口 (shāngkǒu) wound.
- Medicine: 药 (yào) medicine; 处方 (chǔfāng) prescription; 药片 (yàopiàn) pill; 糖浆 (tángjiāng) syrup; 药膏 (yàogāo) ointment; 过敏 (guòmǐn) allergy; 剂量 (jìliàng) dose.
- Numbers and time: Ask "how much" with 多少钱 (duōshao qián); "where" is 哪里 (nǎlǐ).
Practical Information
- Translation apps: Download a Chinese-English offline translator and a dictionary app before you travel; pointing and playing audio often works.
- Hospital help: Major hospitals have an information desk (咨询台) and international departments; ask for English help.
- Interpreter services: Your hotel, embassy, or employer may provide or recommend a medical interpreter; book in advance for complex consultations.
- Tips: Print or screenshot this list. Keep a written note of your allergies, chronic conditions, and regular medicines. Bring your passport and insurance documents. This list is a support tool; always let the doctor make the diagnosis. If you are seriously unwell, call 120 and do not delay.
Your Survival Cheat-Sheet on One Screen
Before you ever need a clinic, save a few lines to your lock screen or favorites. Write down your passport number, your blood type if known, your allergies in Chinese, your regular medicines, and the name and phone number of your embassy or consulate. Add the four emergency numbers: 120 ambulance, 110 police, 119 fire, 122 traffic police. If you cannot pronounce a symptom, show the screen and point.
- Useful phrase: 我需要看医生 (Wǒ xūyào kàn yīshēng) means I need to see a doctor.
- Useful phrase: 我过敏 (Wǒ guòmǐn) means I have an allergy; then show what to.
- Useful phrase: 我不会说中文 (Wǒ bù huì shuō Zhōngwén) means I do not speak Chinese.
- Keep a hotel card in Chinese in your pocket so staff can call a taxi for you.
