Doctor & Pharmacy
Japanese Basic Conversation 2
Chapter 8 ยท At the Doctor & the Pharmacy
๐ฅ At the Doctor & the Pharmacy โ ใณใใใใใจ ใใฃใใใ
Nobody wants to need this chapter, and everybody who travels or lives abroad is glad they learned it. You will learn the parts of the body, how to say where it hurts with ใใ ใใใใงใ, the words for common symptoms, how to ask "may I ...?" with ใใฆใ ใใใงใใ, and how to understand a doctor's "please don't ..." with ใใชใใง ใใ ใใ. Each dialog has a Hard words note instead of a romaji line. For a real emergency, see Chapter 12.
โ At the Reception โ ใใใคใ
A:
ใฉใใใพใใใใ
What seems to be the matter?
B:
ใใใพใ ใใใใงใใ
I have a headache.
A:
ใใคใใใงใใใ
Since when?
B:
ใใฎใใใใงใใ
Since yesterday.
A:
ใญใคใฏ ใใใพใใใ
Do you have a fever?
B:
ใฏใใใใใ ใใใพใใ
Yes, a little.
Hard words: ใฉใใใพใใใ dล shimashita ka ยท ใใใพ atama ยท ใใใ itai ยท ใใคใใ itsu kara ยท ใญใค netsu
โก A Stomach Ache โ ใใชใใ ใใใ
A:
ใฉใใ ใใใใงใใใ
Where does it hurt?
B:
ใใชใใ ใจใฆใ ใใใใงใใ
My stomach really hurts.
A:
ใใใงใใใ
Here?
B:
ใฏใใใใใงใใ
Yes, there.
A:
ใใฏใใฏ ใในใพใใใใ
Have you eaten?
B:
ใใใใใใฎใใฎ ใใใใ ใในใพใใใ
No, I haven't eaten since last night.
Hard words: ใฉใ doko ยท ใใชใ onaka ยท ใใ / ใใ koko / soko
โข A Cold โ ใใ
A:
ใใใ ใงใพใใใฎใฉใ ใใใใงใใ
I have a cough. My throat hurts too.
B:
ใญใคใฏ ใชใใฉใงใใใ
What's your temperature?
A:
ใใใใ
ใใฏใกใฉใงใใ
38 degrees.
B:
ใใใงใใญใใใใใ ใ ใใพใใ
It's a cold. I'll prescribe some medicine.
A:
ใใใใจใใใใใพใใ
Thank you.
B:
ใใ ใใใซใใใฃใใ ใใใใง ใใ ใใใ
Take care. Please get plenty of rest.
Hard words: ใใ seki ยท ใงใพใ demasu ("comes out") ยท ใฎใฉ nodo ยท ใใ kaze ยท ใ ใใพใ dashimasu ยท ใใ ใใใซ odaiji ni ("take care of yourself")
โฃ At the Pharmacy โ ใใฃใใใ
A:
ใใฟใพใใใใญใคใจ ใใใฎ ใใใใ ใใ ใใใ
Excuse me. Medicine for fever and cough, please.
B:
ใขใฌใซใฎใผใฏ ใใใพใใใ
Do you have any allergies?
A:
ใใใใใใใพใใใ
No, I don't.
B:
ใใฎ ใใใใ ใฎใใง ใใ ใใใ
Please take this medicine.
B:
ใใกใซใก ใใใใใใใใใใงใใ
Three times a day, after meals.
A:
ใใใใพใใใใใใใจใใใใใพใใ
Understood. Thank you.
Hard words: ใใฃใใใ yakkyoku ยท ใใใ kusuri ยท ใใกใซใก ichinichi ยท ใใใใ sankai ยท ใใใใ shokugo ("after a meal")
โค May I...? Please Don't... โ ใใฆใใใ?
A:
ใใใใใใใใ ใใกใธ ใใใฃใฆใ ใใใงใใใ
Doctor, may I go home today?
B:
ใฏใใใใใงใใใ
Yes, you may.
A:
ใใตใใซ ใฏใใฃใฆใ ใใใงใใใ
May I take a bath?
B:
ใใตใใฏ ใฏใใใชใใง ใใ ใใใ
Please don't take a bath.
A:
ใใใใฏ?
And alcohol?
B:
ใใใใ ใฎใพใชใใง ใใ ใใใ
Please don't drink alcohol either.
Hard words: ใใใฃใฆใ ใใใงใใ kaette mo ii desu ka ยท ใฏใใฃใฆใ haitte mo ยท ใฏใใใชใใง ใใ ใใ hairanai de kudasai ยท ใฎใพใชใใง ใใ ใใ nomanai de kudasai
โฅ Between Friends (casual) โ ใจใใ ใกใจ
A:
ใ ใใใใใถ? ใญใค ใใ?
Are you all right? Do you have a fever?
B:
ใใใใกใใฃใจ ใใใพ ใใใใ
Yeah, my head hurts a bit.
A:
ใใใ ใฎใ?
Will you take some medicine?
B:
ใใใใฎใใ
Yeah, I will.
A:
ใใฃใใ ใใใใง ใญใ
Get a good rest.
Hard words: ใใ? aru? ("do you have?") ยท ใฎใ nomu (plain "drink / take") ยท ใใใใง ใญ yasunde ne (casual "please rest")
๐ Key Phrases โ ใ ใใใช ใฒใใใใ
| English | Polite (ใงใ / ใพใ) | Casual (friends) |
|---|---|---|
| What's the matter? | ใฉใใใพใใใใ Dล shimashita ka. | ใฉใใใใฎ? Dล shita no? |
| My head hurts. | ใใใพใ ใใใใงใใ Atama ga itai desu. | ใใใพใ ใใใใ Atama ga itai. |
| I have a fever. | ใญใคใ ใใใพใใ Netsu ga arimasu. | ใญใคใ ใใใ Netsu ga aru. |
| I feel sick. | ใใใกใ ใใใใงใใ Kimochi ga warui desu. | ใใใก ใใใใ Kimochi warui. |
| May I ...? | ใใฆใ ใใใงใใใ ... te mo ii desu ka. | ใใฆใ ใใ? ... te mo ii? |
| Please don't ... | ใใชใใง ใใ ใใใ ... naide kudasai. | ใใชใใงใญใ ... naide ne. |
๐ค Three Verbs โ ใฉใใ
Verbs for the clinic. The plain form is for recognition for now.
| Verb | Polite (present) | Negative | Plain (dictionary) |
|---|---|---|---|
| to rest; take a day off (ใใใ) | ใใใฟใพใ yasumimasu | ใใใฟใพใใ yasumimasen | ใใใ yasumu |
| to enter; to take (a bath) (ใฏใใ) | ใฏใใใพใ hairimasu | ใฏใใใพใใ hairimasen | ใฏใใ hairu |
| to take out; to prescribe (ใ ใ) | ใ ใใพใ dashimasu | ใ ใใพใใ dashimasen | ใ ใ dasu |
๐งฐ Grammar Tools โ ใถใใฝใ
1. ใใ ใใใใงใ: where it hurts
Name the body part with ใ and add ใใใใงใ: ใใใพใ ใใใใงใใ (itai is an ใ-adjective, as in Chapter 4: negative ใใใใชใใงใ, "it doesn't hurt".) Add ใจใฆใ or ใใใ as before. If you do not know the word, point and say ใใใ ใใใใงใใ
2. Body parts
| Part | Japanese | Part | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|
| head | ใใใพ atama | hand; arm | ใฆ / ใใง te / ude |
| face | ใใ kao | finger | ใใณ yubi |
| eye | ใ me | chest | ใใญ mune |
| ear | ใฟใฟ mimi | stomach | ใใชใ onaka |
| nose | ใฏใช hana | back | ใใชใ senaka |
| mouth | ใใก kuchi | leg; foot | ใใ ashi |
| tooth | ใฏ ha | knee | ใฒใ hiza |
| throat | ใฎใฉ nodo | waist; lower back | ใใ koshi |
3. Symptoms
| Symptom | Japanese |
|---|---|
| I have a fever. | ใญใคใ ใใใพใใ Netsu ga arimasu. |
| I have a cough. | ใใใ ใงใพใใ Seki ga demasu. |
| I have a runny nose. | ใฏใชใฟใใ ใงใพใใ Hanamizu ga demasu. |
| I feel sick. | ใใใกใ ใใใใงใใ Kimochi ga warui desu. |
| I have a cold. | ใใใงใใ Kaze desu. |
4. ใใฆใ ใใใงใใ: "may I ...?"
Take the te-form (Chapter 7), add ใ, then ใใใงใใ: ใใใฃใฆใ ใใใงใใใ "May I go home?" Answer ใฏใใใใใงใใใ ("Yes, you may.") or ใใฟใพใใใใกใใฃใจโฆใ (a polite refusal, as in Chapter 3).
| Verb | ใฆ-form | "May I ...?" |
|---|---|---|
| ใใใใพใ | ใใใฃใฆ | ใใใฃใฆใ ใใใงใใใ May I go home? |
| ใฏใใใพใ | ใฏใใฃใฆ | ใฏใใฃใฆใ ใใใงใใใ May I come in? |
| ใฎใฟใพใ | ใฎใใง | ใฎใใงใ ใใใงใใใ May I drink it? |
| ใในใพใ | ใในใฆ | ใในใฆใ ใใใงใใใ May I eat? |
5. ใใชใใง ใใ ใใ: "please don't ..." (set phrase)
The doctor's instructions often come as a negative request: ใฎใพใชใใง ใใ ใใใ ใใชใใง ใใ ใใ attaches to the ใชใ-form. You do not need to build it yourself yet; learn these useful ready-made ones and recognise the pattern.
| Ready-made phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ใฎใพใชใใง ใใ ใใใ Nomanai de kudasai. | Please don't drink. |
| ใในใชใใง ใใ ใใใ Tabenai de kudasai. | Please don't eat. |
| ใฏใใใชใใง ใใ ใใใ Hairanai de kudasai. | Please don't enter / bathe. |
| ใใใชใใง ใใ ใใใ Ikanai de kudasai. | Please don't go. |
| ใใใ ใใชใใง ใใ ใใใ Muri o shinai de kudasai. | Please don't overdo it. |
6. At the pharmacy: how often?
ใใกใซใก ใใใใ (three times a day), ใใใใ (after meals), ใใใใใ (before meals), ใญใใพใ (before bed). Ask ใชใใใ ใฎใฟใพใใใ "How many times do I take it?"
๐ Vocabulary โ ใใ
20 key words for the doctor and the pharmacy.
| # | Japanese | Romaji | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ใใใพ | atama | head | noun |
| 2 | ใใชใ | onaka | stomach, belly | noun |
| 3 | ใใชใ | senaka | back | noun |
| 4 | ใฎใฉ | nodo | throat | noun |
| 5 | ใ | me | eye | noun |
| 6 | ใฏ | ha | tooth | noun |
| 7 | ใฆ | te | hand | noun |
| 8 | ใใ | ashi | leg, foot | noun |
| 9 | ใญใค | netsu | fever | noun |
| 10 | ใใ | seki | cough | noun |
| 11 | ใใ | kaze | a cold | noun |
| 12 | ใใใ | kusuri | medicine | noun |
| 13 | ใณใใใใ | byลin | hospital; clinic | noun |
| 14 | ใใฃใใใ | yakkyoku | pharmacy | noun |
| 15 | ใใใ | itai | painful, hurting | i-adj. |
| 16 | ใฉใใใพใใใ | dล shimashita ka | what's the matter? | phrase |
| 17 | ใใใใ | shokugo | after a meal | noun |
| 18 | ใใใฟใพใ | yasumimasu | rest; take a day off | verb |
| 19 | ใฏใใใพใ | hairimasu | enter; take (a bath) | verb |
| 20 | ใปใใใใใ | hokenshล | health insurance card | noun |
Real Japanese Tip โ ใณใใใใ and ใฏใชใใใฏ
In Japan a large ใณใใใใ (hospital) usually expects a referral, and for everyday illness most people go to a small neighbourhood clinic (often called a ใฏใชใใใฏ or named for its speciality, such as ใชใใ, internal medicine, or ใใ, dentist). On arrival you give your name at the reception and fill in a short form. Residents show their ใปใใใใใ (insurance card); visitors without Japanese insurance normally pay the full fee, so travel insurance is worth having. Ask your hotel to recommend a clinic and to ring ahead.
Real Japanese Tip โ The Pharmacy
A ใใฃใใใ fills prescriptions from a doctor: you take the paper ใใใปใใใ (prescription) there and the pharmacist explains how to take the medicine. A ใใฉใใฐในใใข sells over-the-counter remedies for headaches, colds and stomach upsets. The pharmacist will ask about allergies (ใขใฌใซใฎใผใฏ ใใใพใใ) and your symptoms, so the vocabulary of this chapter and of Chapter 7 is exactly what you need.
Real Japanese Tip โ ใใ ใใใซ
When someone is ill, say ใใ ใใใซ (odaiji ni), literally "please take good care". It is the standard polite wish for a speedy recovery, used by doctors, colleagues and shop staff alike. A good reply is ใใใใจใใใใใพใใ
Kanji Spotlight โ ็ฎ ๅฃ ๆ ่ฌ
Some of the simplest kanji are body parts: ็ฎ (me, eye), ๅฃ (kuchi, mouth; a square opening), ๆ (te, hand). On a pharmacy sign you will see ่ฌ (kusuri, medicine), and a hospital is ็
้ข (byลin). (The kanji pages for these are not on the site yet.)
โ๏ธ Try It Yourself โ ใใใใ ใ
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. Say "My stomach hurts."
Show answer
ใใชใใ ใใใใงใใ
2. Say "I have a fever and a cough."
Show answer
ใญใคใ ใใใพใใใใใ ใงใพใใ
3. Ask "May I go home?"
Show answer
ใใใฃใฆใ ใใใงใใใ
4. The doctor says ใใใใ ใฎใพใชใใง ใใ ใใใ What does it mean?
Show answer
"Please don't drink alcohol."
5. Ask at a pharmacy for medicine for a cough.
Show answer
ใใใฎ ใใใใ ใใ ใใใ
6. What does ใใกใซใก ใใใใใใใใใ mean on a medicine bag?
Show answer
"Three times a day, after meals."
Coming Up in Chapter 9
Talking about the past: ใใพใใ and ใใพใใใงใใ, ใใงใใ, i-adjectives in the past (ใใใฃใใงใ), and time words such as ใใฎใ, ใใใใ
ใ, so you can tell people what you did yesterday and last weekend.