Hanyu Jiaocheng • BLCU • Health Lesson
Hanyu Jiaocheng Doctor Lesson — 看病 and Hospital Vocabulary in Chinese
The health chapter in 汉语教程 (Hanyu Jiaocheng) by Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) teaches how to describe symptoms, visit a Chinese hospital, talk to a doctor and understand treatment advice. 看病 (to see a doctor) and symptom words like 头疼 and 发烧 are the core of this lesson.
Medical Vocabulary — 17 Words
Chinese medical vocabulary is practical and phonologically regular. The body + 疼/痛 pattern (head + ache, stomach + ache) covers most common complaints — once you know the body part word, you can describe almost any pain.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 医生 | yīshēng | doctor | Also: 大夫 (dàifu) — common informal alternative |
| 护士 | hùshi | nurse | |
| 医院 | yīyuàn | hospital | 诊所 (zhěnsuǒ) = clinic / smaller practice |
| 看病 | kànbìng | to see a doctor / to go to the doctor | 看 here means to examine / to visit; 看病 = seek medical attention |
| 头疼 / 头痛 | tóuténg / tóutòng | headache | 头 = head; 疼/痛 = to hurt/ache. Both forms are correct. |
| 发烧 | fāshāo | to have a fever | 你发烧了吗？= Do you have a fever? |
| 咳嗽 | késou | to cough / cough | Pronunciation: note the unstressed second syllable |
| 感冒 | gǎnmào | to have a cold / cold (illness) | 我感冒了 = I have a cold / I've caught a cold |
| 肚子疼 | dùzi téng | stomachache / stomach hurts | 肚子 = belly/stomach; 疼 = to ache |
| 哪里不舒服 | nǎlǐ bù shūfu | where does it hurt / what feels uncomfortable | Standard doctor's question: 你哪里不舒服？ |
| 多长时间 | duō cháng shíjiān | how long (duration) | 多长时间了？= How long has this been going on? |
| 吃药 | chī yào | to take medicine | 药 = medicine; 吃 = to eat/take |
| 打针 | dǎzhēn | to have an injection / to get a shot | Common question: 要打针吗？= Do I need a shot? |
| 休息 | xiūxi | to rest | 多休息 = rest more (common doctor's advice) |
| 严重 | yánzhòng | serious / severe (of illness) | 不严重 = not serious; 很严重 = very serious |
| 好多了 | hǎo duō le | much better | 你好多了吗？— Are you feeling much better? |
| 过敏 | guòmǐn | allergy / allergic reaction | 我对花生过敏 = I am allergic to peanuts |
Practice Dialogue — At the University Clinic
A student (A) visits the university clinic. The doctor (B) examines them.
你好，请坐。你哪里不舒服？
Nǐ hǎo, qǐng zuò. Nǐ nǎlǐ bù shūfu?
Hello, please sit down. Where does it feel uncomfortable?
我头疼，而且有点发烧，也一直在咳嗽。
Wǒ tóuténg, érqiě yǒudiǎn fāshāo, yě yīzhí zài késou.
I have a headache, and I'm a little feverish — I've also been coughing.
症状多长时间了？
Zhèngzhuàng duō cháng shíjiān le?
How long have you had these symptoms?
从昨天晚上开始，大概一天了。
Cóng zuótiān wǎnshang kāishǐ, dàgài yī tiān le.
Since last night — about a day.
我帮你量一下体温。……三十八度五，确实发烧了。你是感冒，不严重。
Wǒ bāng nǐ liáng yīxià tǐwēn. ……Sānshíbā dù wǔ, quèshí fāshāo le. Nǐ shì gǎnmào, bù yánzhòng.
Let me take your temperature. …38.5°C — you do have a fever. It's a cold, nothing serious.
需要打针吗？
Xūyào dǎzhēn ma?
Do I need an injection?
不用，吃药就可以了。多喝水，多休息。这是药，一天三次，每次两片。
Bú yòng, chī yào jiù kěyǐ le. Duō hē shuǐ, duō xiūxi. Zhè shì yào, yī tiān sān cì, měi cì liǎng piàn.
No need — taking medicine is enough. Drink lots of water and rest. Here is your medicine: three times a day, two tablets each time.
好的，谢谢医生。
Hǎo de, xièxie yīshēng.
Okay, thank you doctor.
Grammar Patterns
[body part] hurts / [body part] ache
头疼 / 肚子疼 / 腿疼 / 牙疼
Productive pattern: know the body part word + 疼 = you can describe any pain.
A little bit [adjective]
有点发烧。/ 有点咳嗽。— A little feverish. / Coughing a little.
有点 softens a complaint. Compare: 很发烧 would sound strange; 有点发烧 is natural.
Have been [verb-ing] continuously
一直在咳嗽 — Have been coughing the whole time.
一直 = continuously; 在 here marks ongoing action. Very common for describing persistent symptoms.
Do more of [verb] (advice)
多喝水。多休息。多吃饭。— Drink more water. Rest more. Eat more.
多 before a verb gives friendly advice. The most common doctor's phrase is 多喝水 (drink more water).