At the Hospital
Describe symptoms, register at a clinic, and understand a doctor's instructions.
Hospital Korean covers a high-stakes set of phrases. Korean medical care is generally excellent and accessible — most hospitals have walk-in clinics (의원) and major hospitals have international clinics with English-speaking staff. Travel insurance covers most issues, but you'll pay first and reclaim.
Key symptom vocabulary: 머리가 아파요 (my head hurts), 배가 아파요 (my stomach hurts), 열이 나요 (I have a fever), 기침해요 (I'm coughing), 어지러워요 (I'm dizzy), 토했어요 (I threw up). For the pharmacy (약국): 처방전 (prescription), 약 (medicine), 식후에 (after meals), 식전에 (before meals). Pharmacies are everywhere in Korea and most basic medications are available over the counter. The pharmacist is usually willing to give advice, though may have limited English. Bring a written description of your symptoms in Korean if your speaking ability is uncertain — translation apps work well for this.
-아/어요 + 부터 — Since / From (time)
N+부터 marks the starting point of time or place. When describing symptoms, you often say when they started: '어제부터 (since yesterday)', '아침부터 (since morning)'. Pair with -아/어요 or -고 있어요 to describe ongoing symptoms.
-이/가 아프다 / -이/가 나다 — Body complaints
To describe pain or discomfort: body part + 이/가 아파요 (hurts). To describe symptoms that 'appear': 열이 나요 (have a fever), 기침이 나요 (coughing). The subject particle 이/가 is used with the body part or symptom.
Cultural & Language Note
Korean clinics operate on a walk-in basis far more than appointment-based systems elsewhere, and 접수 at the front desk is the first step. National health insurance keeps costs low for residents, and pharmacies sit adjacent to most clinics so that filling a 처방전 takes minutes. Specialists can usually be visited directly without a referral.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Korean marks the aching body part as the subject: 머리가 아파요, not 머리를 아파요 — 아프다 is descriptive, not an action performed on the head. Japanese speakers transfer 頭が痛い correctly, but English speakers often reach for an object particle. 나다 works the same way: 열이 나요, not 열을 나요.