Japanese for the doctor and pharmacy
Getting sick abroad is stressful, and explaining symptoms in another language makes it harder. These words and phrases cover the usual visit to a clinic and a pharmacy in Japan, from the reception desk to picking up your medicine.
In an emergency
In an emergency, call 119 for an ambulance or the fire service. Start with 救急です (kyūkyū desu, “it’s a medical emergency”), then give the address. Some areas also have a phone line for advice on whether you need an ambulance; your city office can tell you what is available where you live.
At reception
At most clinics you go to the reception desk (受付, uketsuke) first. You will be asked for proof of health insurance. Japan has been moving from the traditional insurance card (保険証, hokenshō) to using the My Number Card as an insurance card, and the rules have changed in recent years, so check with your insurer or employer what to bring. On a first visit you will usually fill in a medical questionnaire (問診票, monshinhyō) about your symptoms, allergies, medicines you take and, where relevant, pregnancy.
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 初めてです | hajimete desu | This is my first visit |
| 保険証はお持ちですか？ | hokenshō wa omochi desu ka? | Do you have your insurance card? (you will hear this) |
| 問診票を書いてください | monshinhyō o kaite kudasai | Please fill in the questionnaire (you will hear this) |
| 英語の問診票はありますか？ | eigo no monshinhyō wa arimasu ka? | Do you have the questionnaire in English? |
| 英語を話せる先生はいますか？ | eigo o hanaseru sensei wa imasu ka? | Is there a doctor who speaks English? |
Describing symptoms
Doctors usually want to know what hurts, how it feels and since when. Short sentences are fine.
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 熱があります | netsu ga arimasu | I have a fever |
| 頭が痛いです | atama ga itai desu | I have a headache |
| 喉が痛いです | nodo ga itai desu | I have a sore throat |
| 咳が出ます | seki ga demasu | I have a cough |
| 吐き気がします | hakike ga shimasu | I feel sick (nauseous) |
| めまいがします | memai ga shimasu | I feel dizzy |
| 下痢をしています | geri o shite imasu | I have diarrhoea |
| 昨日からです | kinō kara desu | Since yesterday |
| 〜のアレルギーがあります | … no arerugī ga arimasu | I’m allergic to … |
| この薬を飲んでいます | kono kusuri o nonde imasu | I’m taking this medicine |
To say where it hurts, put the body part before が痛いです (ga itai desu): お腹が痛いです means “my stomach hurts”.
Body parts
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 頭 | atama | Head |
| 目 | me | Eye |
| 耳 | mimi | Ear |
| 鼻 | hana | Nose |
| 歯 | ha | Tooth |
| 喉 | nodo | Throat |
| 胸 | mune | Chest |
| お腹 | onaka | Stomach, belly |
| 背中 | senaka | Back |
| 腰 | koshi | Lower back |
| 腕 | ude | Arm |
| 足 | ashi | Leg, foot |
At the pharmacy
After seeing a doctor, you often receive a prescription (処方箋, shohōsen) to take to a pharmacy (薬局, yakkyoku), frequently one near the clinic. The pharmacist will explain how to take the medicine and may offer a medicine notebook (お薬手帳, okusuri techō), a record of what you have been prescribed.
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 処方箋をお願いします | shohōsen o onegai shimasu | Here is my prescription |
| お薬手帳はお持ちですか？ | okusuri techō wa omochi desu ka? | Do you have a medicine notebook? (you will hear this) |
| 一日何回飲みますか？ | ichinichi nankai nomimasu ka? | How many times a day do I take it? |
| 食後 | shokugo | After meals |
| 食前 | shokuzen | Before meals |
| 風邪薬はありますか？ | kazegusuri wa arimasu ka? | Do you have cold medicine? (at a drugstore) |
Tips for the visit
- Prepare a short note. Write your symptoms, when they started, allergies and current medicines in simple Japanese before you go. Showing it is perfectly acceptable.
- Bring your medicines or their packaging, especially if they were prescribed abroad.
- Check opening hours. Many clinics close for lunch and on certain afternoons, and hours differ from clinic to clinic.
- Ask to repeat. もう一度お願いします (mō ichido onegai shimasu) is always fine when health is involved.
Practising before you need it
Medical Japanese is easiest to learn when you are well. A Hanabuddies tutor can help you write your own symptom and allergy note, practise a reception and consultation role-play, and go through the questionnaire wording so it is familiar when you need it.