If you happen to have an emergency situation in South Korea, knowing how to say “doctor” in Korean will come in handy. While none of us come to Korea with the hopes and dreams of getting hurt – surely it’s the opposite – sometimes a visit to a doctor simply is inevitable.
In addition to that, before you enter the doctor’s office or a Korean hospital, it’s good to know the medical terms in Korean! In those moments, knowing how to say “doctor” is an essential addition to your Korean vocabulary.
Knowing these terms will allow you to explain to your Korean friends what you need help with, and in turn, they can help you find the right doctor for your needs and perhaps even get you to the doctor’s office.
In this article, we will go over Korean words for different medical terms, from how to say common cold or flu to how to ask for help in an urgent situation regarding your health. It will be a helpful guide to you if you ever need to see a doctor when in Korea – even if it’s just a small issue like an eye infection!
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How to say “Doctor” in Korean
So, how to say “doctor” in Korean? The word you’re looking for is 의사 (uisa). Whether you’re describing a physician, pediatrician, or general doctor, the basic word to use is always “의사 (uisa).” You might trip over the pronunciation a little bit at first, but otherwise, the word is easy peasy to remember and memorize!
Korean medical vocabulary
Now that you’ve learned how to say “doctor” in Korean, let’s now continue learning Korean terms further. We’ve listed essential medical-related Korean vocabulary below. You can mainly find useful nouns and phrases along with their pronunciation and group them into categories, from general terms to diseases and medicines. Before that, it’s also relevant to know why learning these is important.
Basic medical vocabulary
These are the Korean words that are commonly used when talking about medical-related topics.
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 약 (yak) | Medicine (drug) |
| 의학 (uihak) | Medicine (field) |
| 아프다 (apeuda) | Sick, hurt, in pain |
| 메스껍다 (meseukkeopda) | Sick, nauseous |
| 병이 난 (byeongi nan) | Sick, ill, unwell |
| 혈액형 (hyeoraekhyeong) | Blood type |
| 감기 (gamgi) | Cold |
| 독감 (dokgam) | Flu |
| 기침 (gichim) | Cough |
| 콧물 (kotmul) | Runny nose |
| 귀 통증 (gwi tongjeung) | Ear ache |
| 열 (yeol) | Fever |
| 고열 (goyeol) | High fever |
| 떨다 (tteolda) | Shiver |
| 체온 (cheon) | Body temperature |
| 두통 (dutong) | Headache |
| 어지럽다 (eojireopda) 아찔하다 (ajjilhada) | Dizzy |
| 흐릿한 시야 (heurithan siya) | Blurry vision |
| 고혈압 (gohyeorap) | High blood pressure |
| 맥박 (maekbag) | Pulse |
| 복통 (boktong) | Stomachache |
| 구토 (guto) | Vomiting |
| 설사 (seolsa) | Diarrhea |
| 변비 (byeonbi) | Constipation |
| 욕지기 (yokjigi) | Nausea |
| 토할 것 같다 (tohal geot gatda) | Feel nauseous |
| 치통 (chitong) | Toothache |
| 치료 (chiryo) | Treatment |
“Medicine” in Korean
There are two different terms for “medicine” in Korean. If you’re referring to the medicine taken when you are sick, the Korean word for that is 약 (yak).
On the other hand, if you mean to say “medicine,” which refers to its field, then the word for it is 의학 (uihak).
“Pain” in Korean
To let people know you’re feeling some pain or discomfort, knowing this term is essential. You can say “pain” in Korean as 아프다 (apeuda).
Here’s an article on how to say “ouch” in Korean, which is the most common expression used when you’re in pain.
“Hurt” in Korean
Another similar term to “pain” is “hurt.” In Korean, you can also use the term 아프다 (apeuda), which is also translated as “sick” in English.
“Headache” in Korean
If your head hurts, you can use the word for “headache” in Korean, which is 두통 (dutong).
“High blood pressure” in Korean
If you’re suffering from high blood pressure, it’s important to know its Korean translation, which is 고혈압 (gohyeorap).
“Surgery” in Korean
Some conditions can only be treated through surgery. The Korean word for “surgery” is 수술 (susul).
Common diseases and conditions
Below are the Korean words for diseases and conditions that can be commonly experienced.
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 관절염 (gwanjeollyeom) | Arthritis |
| 알레르기 (allereugi) | Allergy |
| 천식 (cheonsik) | Asthma |
| 감기 (gamgi) | Colds |
| 암 (am) | Cancer |
| 당뇨병 (dangnyobyeong) | Diabetes |
| 임신중 (imsinjung) | Pregnancy |
| 일사병 (ilsabyeong) | Sunstroke |
“Diabetes” in Korean
The Korean word for “diabetes” is 당뇨병 (dangnyobyeong).
“Asthma” in Korean
Another common condition that people experience is asthma. In Korean, you can say this as 천식 (cheonsik).
Korean words for medicines
Learning the Korean words for these treatments is very important especially when you’re not feeling well.
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 항생제 (hangsaengje) | Antibiotic |
| 아스피린 (aseupirin) | Aspirin |
| 기침약 (gichimyak) | Cough syrup |
| 진통제 (jintongje) | Painkiller |
| 처방전약 (cheobangjeonyak) | Prescription medicine |
| 비타민 (bitamin) | Vitamin |
| 백신 (baek-sin) | Vaccine |
| 주사 (jusa) | Injection |
| 수술 (su-sul) | Operation |
“Hospital” in Korean
The word for “hospital” in the Korean language is 병원 (byeongwon). You can use it for any type, such as a field hospital or cottage hospital. Below you will see more vocabulary related to hospitals.
Korean vocabulary for hospitals
Below are Korean words that are often used in hospitals.
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 구급차 (gugeupcha) | Ambulance |
| 진단 (jindan) | Diagnosis |
| 응급실 (eunggeupsil) | Emergency room |
| 진찰 (jinchal) | Examination |
| 간호사 (ganhosa) | Nurse |
| 아픔 (apeum) | Pain |
| 환자 (hawanja) | Patient |
| 증상 (jeungsang) | Symptom |
Different branches of medicine vocabulary
The Korean words below pertain to medicine’s different branches. These can help you locate them easier in hospitals.
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 피부과 (pibugwa) | Dermatology |
| 치과 (chigwa) | Dentistry |
| 이비인후과 (ibiinhugwa) | Ear, nose, and throat |
| 외과 (oegwa) | General surgery |
| 안과 (angwa) | Ophthalmology |
| 정형외과 (jeonghyeongoegwa) | Orthopedic |
| 소아과 (soagwa) | Pediatrics |
| 성형외과 (seonghyeongoegwa) | Plastic surgery |
Sample Korean medical phrases
Here is a list of phrases in the Korean language that may be good as they are or provide guidance for how to say what you need to say. These can be used with your friend, personnel in hospitals, or perhaps a taxi driver in case of emergency.
Phrases to say to a taxi driver
The first step of getting treatment is actually going to hospitals. Here are some useful Korean phrases to say to the taxi driver.
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 제일 가까운 병원으로 가주세요. (jeil gakkaun byeongwoneuro gajuseyo.) | Please take me to the nearest hospital. |
Phrases said to patients
If you’re a patient, these might be questions or sentences that you’ll often hear.
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 통증이 있으세요? (tongjeungi isseuseyo?) | Do you have any pain? |
| 어디가 아프세요? (eodiga apeuseyo?) | Where does it hurt? |
| 증세가 어떻세요? (jeungsega eotteoseyo?) | What are your symptoms? |
| 언제부터 아프셨어요? (eonjebuteo apeusyeosseoyo?) | Since when has it hurt? |
| 의사 선생님이 곧 오실 거예요. (uisa seonsaengnimi got osil geoyeyo.) | The doctor will be here soon. |
| 검사가 더 필요해요. (geomsaga deo pillyohaeyo.) | You need further examination. |
| 결과는 며칠후에 나와요. (gyeolgwaneun myeochilhue nawayo.) | We'll get the results in a few days. |
| 입원하셔야 돼요. (ibwonhasyeoya dwaeyo.) | You need to be admitted to the hospital. |
| 수술해야 돼요. (susulhaeya dwaeyo.) | You need surgery. |
| 의사를 필요하세요? (euisareul piryohaseyo?) | Do you need a doctor? |
Phrases a patient uses in hospitals
Here are some useful phrases often used by patients in hospitals.
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 입원실 비용이 어떻게 되세요? (ibwonsil biyongi eotteoke doeseyo?) | How much does hospitalization cost? |
| 언제 퇴원할 수 있나요? (eonje toewonhal su innayo?) | When can I be discharged? |
| 응급실이 어디에요? (eunggeupsiri eodieyo?) | Where is the ER? |
| 저는 의사가 필요해요. (jeoneun uisaga pillyohaeyo.) | I need a doctor. |
| 의사 선생님 좀 불러주세요. (uisa seonsaengnim jom bulleojuseyo.) | Please call a doctor. |
| 오늘 의사가 계세요? (oneul euisaga gyeseyo?) | Is the doctor present today? |
| 저는 의사를 필요해요. (jeoneun euisareul piryohaeyo.) | I need a doctor. |
Phrases to express how you feel
Here are some useful ways to clearly express what you’re feeling.
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 감기 걸렸어요. (gamgi geollyeosseoyo.) | I have a cold. |
| 저 지금 많이 아파요. (jeo jigeum mani apayo.) | I am in a lot of pain right now. |
| X 아파요. (X apayo.) | My X hurts. |
| 여기 아파요. (yeogi apayo.) | It hurts here. |
| 열이 있어요. (yeori isseoyo.) | I have a fever. |
| 심장병이 있어요. (simjangbyeongi isseoyo.) | I have heart disease. |
| 설사 해요. (seolsa haeyo.) | I have diarrhea. |
| 어제보다 나아졌어요. (eojeboda naajyeosseoyo.) | I feel better than yesterday. |
| 제 병이 악화됐어요. (je byeongi akwadwaesseoyo.) | My disease worsened. |
Other useful phrases you might use
Here are more medical-related Korean phrases that might be useful.
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 건강보험증 있어요. (geongangboheomjeung isseoyo.) | I have an insurance card. |
| 건강보험증 없어요. (geongangboheomjeung eopseoyo.) | I don't have an insurance card. |
| 구급차 불러 주세요! (gugeupcha bulleo juseyo!) | Please call an ambulance! |
| 응급상황이에요. (eunggeupsanghwangieyo.) | It's an emergency. |
| 일회용 밴드가 필요해요. (ilhoeyong baendeuga pillyohaeyo.) | I need a band-aid. |
| 붕대가 필요해요. (bungdaega pillyohaeyo.) | I need a bandage. |
| 진통제가 필요해요. (jintongjega pillyohaeyo.) | I need painkillers. |
| 제일 가까운 병원은 어디 있어요? (jeil gakkaun byeongwoneun eodi isseoyo?) | Where is the closest hospital? |
| 병원에 가야될 것 같아요. (byeongwone gayadoel geot gatayo.) | I think I'll need to go to a hospital. |
| 다리를 이렇게 아프게 다쳤으면 의사를 보러 가요. (darireul ireohke apeuge dachyeosseumyeon euisareul boreo gayo.) | If you hurt your leg this bad, go see a doctor. |
| 우리 아버지는 안과 의사예요. (uri abeojineun angwa euisayeyo.) | Our father is an eye doctor. |
| 나는 의사로 되고 싶어. (naneun euisaro dwaego sipeo.) | I want to become a doctor. |
Why is it important to learn medical vocabulary in Korean?
By knowing the exact Korean word for each medical term, you can more comfortably pinpoint where it hurts and what you are feeling, from a simple sore throat or headache to something that needs a visit to the emergency room.
Knowing the precise Korean word will help your native Korean friends in helping you at the hospital, and you will not accidentally be diagnosed by doctors with the wrong thing.
You can also understand your Korean friend better when they speak of their sickness and therefore offer accurate assistance. By referring to our “body parts in Korean” vocabulary article, you will also become familiar with each Korean word for different body parts.
Know both these medical terms and Korean words for the body parts to determine what’s wrong early on. After all, prevention is better than cure!
What is the best medical Korean drama to watch?
To enhance today’s learning, as well as to make memorizing these terms and learning Korean even more fun, how about watching a Korean drama taking place in the hospitals? Below, we’ve listed some of the best medical Korean dramas that you can watch.
Hospital Ship
The first one is “Hospital Ship” from 2017, starring the amazing Ha Ji-won, which is an interesting Korean drama taking place on a ship. Besides offering a unique twist on a medical drama, it’s got a great cast with excellent characters. And it’s available on Netflix!
Doctors
Another one that we recommend is 2016’s “Doctors” Korean drama, which takes a more traditional approach to medical dramas, with Korean actress Park Shin Hye as its lead. It was a top drama among Korean viewers and should also be available for you to see on Netflix.
Hospital Playlist
Lastly, the Korean drama Hospital Playlist is a must-watch. It had two seasons which already says a lot. This drama gives you a mix of comedy, romance, drama, and friendship. But most importantly, it can give you an idea about Korean medical terms and how each department in the hospital function, and it can describe setups in hospitals in Korea.
These are just three examples of the many Korean dramas out there that touch upon the topics we’ve been learning about today! Watching these can be a great way to learn some terms. And not only that, but you can also learn a little bit more about the medical culture in Korea, even if these are works of fiction.
Wrap Up
Hurray, you have learned a lot today about Korean medical terms! They are such an important topic to learn about in case an emergency or illness strikes while you are in the South.
Have you ever needed to see a doctor before when traveling or living abroad? What’s the most exciting thing you learned today? Let us know below in the comments! Stay healthy! Read more about life in Korea for foreigners in another article of ours!
Photo Credit: Bigstock.com
How do I call doctor with their name? for example i want to call ‘Dr. Hanna’ ??
Hi, Heizi! You can say “name + 선생님”. ^^
But do I use their first name or last name? Or both?
It depends on the person. Some uses first name and others uses last name.
Can a doctor called seonsaengnim?
That’s right, JD! Doctors are commonly called ‘선생님’ or ‘의사 선생님’ in Korea. ^^
Hi, how do you say “cardiologist” in korean? Please.
Hi, Nina! It’s 심장전문의사 in Korean. 심장 means ‘heart’, 전문 means ‘specialized’, and 의사 means ‘doctor’. ^^
If the doctor is a girls, will she be called the same as 선생님?
Sure, Blac! ^^
Is this the same for someone who earned PhD? Such as Psychology, Education, History, etc?
Hi 린다!
This is for medical doctors. PhD is called “박사” in Korean. ^^
Hi dear
How do you say a dietitian who has PhD and works at hospital?
I mean a person who has “PhD in Clinical Nutrition”
Tnx a lot
Hi Mitra, You can say 영양사 for “a dietician”, and 임상영양학 박사 학위 for “Ph.D. in Clinical Nutrition” or 임상영양학 박사 for “Doctor of Clinical Nutrition”. ^^