Don’t be afraid! Conversation in Japanese at hospitals
2023.04.12
In Japanese hospitals, most receptionists, doctors and nurses can speak only Japanese. Let’s learn what you are asked in hospital in advance just in case!
Reception
「保険証と診察券をお願いします（ほけんしょうとしんさつけんをおねがいします）（Do you have your health insurance card and patient registration card?）」
When you go to hospital, you go to reception first. Receptionist says like this. Please give your health insurance card and patient registration card to the receptionist. When you go to a hospital which you have not gone before, please tell the receptionist that you do not have patient registration card.
- 「今日はどうされましたか？（きょうはどうされましたか？）（What brings you today?）
Some receptionists ask patients like this. He or she want to know what kinds of symptoms you have. If you are asked this question, please tell him or her your symptoms simply. Let’s use following phrases.
「熱があります（ねつがあります）」“I have a fever.”
「咳が出ます（せきがでます）」“I have a cough.”
「喉が痛いです（のどがいたいです）」“I have a sore throat.”
「頭が痛いです（あたまがいたいです）」“I have a headache.”
「鼻水が出ます（はなみずがでます）」“I have a runny nose.”
- 「問診票を書いて受付まで持ってきてください（もんしんひょうをかいてうけつけまでもってきてください）」“Please fill in the medical questionnaire and give it to a receptionist.”
When you go to the hospital for the first time or for the first time in a while, you are asked to fill in a medical questionnaire. Please read following article for filling in a medical questionnaire.
“Medical questionnaire at a hospital in Japan”
https://social-b.net/baiyu/en/medical-questionarrie20221126en/
After you fill in the medical questionnaire, please give it to a receptionist.
Medical Examination
After a nurse call your name, you enter a examination room.
- 「今日はどうされましたか？（きょうはどうされましたか？）（What brings you today?）
Doctor asks you this question to know what kinds of symptoms you have. By using phrases which I introduced above, please tell your symptoms.
- 「その症状はいつから続いていますか？（そのしょうじょうはいつからつづいていますか？）」（How long have you had the problem?）
You can answer like this; 「3日前からです（みっかまえからです）」（Three days ago）
When you have more than two symptoms, please tell the period for each symptom.
Example
「一週間前から喉が痛くて、昨日の朝から熱が出ています。（いっしゅうかんまえからのどがいたくて、きのうのあさからねつがでています）」（I have had a sore throat for a week and have a fever since yesterday morning.）
- 「それでは診察するので口を開けてください。『あー』と声を出してください。（それではしんさつするのでくちをあけてください。『あー』とこえをだしてください。）」（Please open your mouth. Please say あー.）
After you tell your symptoms to the doctor, he or she examine you. At first, he or she see your throat. Please say あー so that he or she can see back of your throat. Doctor usually use a metal spatula when he or she see your throat.
- 「心臓の音を聞くので服を上げてください（しんぞうのおとをきくのでふくをあげてください）」（Please lift(pull) up your clothes and show your stomach.）
Next, doctor listen to the sounds of heart and breath. When doctor say this phrase, please lift up your clothes including underware.
- 「後ろを向いてください（うしろをむいてください）」（Please turn around）
After doctor listen to the sounds of heart and breath stomach side, he or she also listen to the sounds back side. So please turn your back on him or her.
After doctor finish medical examination, he or she explain your disease and medicine. As for medicine, he or she explain about how many days and when you take them. If you will not feel better even though you finish taking all of medicine the doctor prescribes, please go to the hospital again.
After medical examination
After medical examination, you wait for the payment in a waiting room. After receptionist call your name, please go to the reception and pay the fee.
Doctors, nurses, and receptionists in Japanese hospital often speak only Japanese. Knowing what you are asked in a hospital in advance reduce your anxiety. You will be anxious when you are sick. Please memorize these phrases and calm your anxiety!
- Please also refer to the following page.
“Departments in hospital” https://social-b.net/baiyu/en/clinic20220221en/
Easy to remember! Conversations in Japanese at restaurants
https://social-b.net/baiyu/en/restaurant20220501en/
Easy! Conversations in Japanese at convenience stores
https://social-b.net/baiyu/en/conveniencestorejapanese0424en/
- If you have further inquiries, please feel free to ask questions from the link below.
https://social-b.net/baiyu/en/question-box/