Saying where it hurts, and reading the sign above the desk
This is language help, not medical advice. If it's an emergency, call 120 for an ambulance (110 police, 119 fire) — and if you're with someone who speaks Chinese, hand them the phone.
At the pharmacy
A 药店 (yàodiàn) is a shop counter, not a consultation. Staff will ask what's wrong and hand you something; the packaging and dosage will be in Chinese.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我不舒服 | Wǒ bù shūfu | I don't feel well |
| 我嗓子疼 | Wǒ sǎngzi téng | I have a sore throat |
| 我咳嗽 | Wǒ késou | I have a cough |
| 我发烧了 | Wǒ fāshāo le | I have a fever |
| 我肚子疼 | Wǒ dùzi téng | My stomach hurts |
| 有什么药？ | Yǒu shénme yào? | What do you have for it? |
| 一天吃几次？ | Yì tiān chī jǐ cì? | How many times a day? |
| 一次吃几片？ | Yí cì chī jǐ piàn? | How many tablets each time? |
| 饭前还是饭后？ | Fàn qián háishì fàn hòu? | Before or after food? |
| 会困吗？ | Huì kùn ma? | Will it make me drowsy? |
Describing a symptom
Point, then say one of these. Pointing is the most reliable part of the sentence.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这里疼 | Zhèlǐ téng | It hurts here |
| 疼了三天了 | Téng le sān tiān le | It's been hurting for three days |
| 我头晕 | Wǒ tóuyūn | I'm dizzy |
| 我想吐 | Wǒ xiǎng tù | I feel sick |
| 我喘不上气 | Wǒ chuǎn bu shàng qì | I can't catch my breath |
| 我对青霉素过敏 | Wǒ duì qīngméisù guòmǐn | I'm allergic to penicillin |
| 我在吃这个药 | Wǒ zài chī zhège yào | I'm taking this medication |
| 我怀孕了 | Wǒ huáiyùn le | I'm pregnant |
Getting seen at a hospital
Outpatient care usually starts with 挂号 (guàhào) — registering at a desk or machine for a department, paying, then going to that department to wait. Bring your passport, and your insurance details if you have them.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我要挂号 | Wǒ yào guàhào | I'd like to register |
| 挂哪个科？ | Guà nǎge kē? | Which department should I register for? |
| 这是我的护照 | Zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào | Here's my passport |
| 我有保险 | Wǒ yǒu bǎoxiǎn | I have insurance |
| 我要收据 | Wǒ yào shōujù | I need a receipt |
| 有会说英文的医生吗？ | Yǒu huì shuō Yīngwén de yīshēng ma? | Is there a doctor who speaks English? |
| 请叫救护车 | Qǐng jiào jiùhùchē | Please call an ambulance |
The signs you'll be sent to
| Sign | Pinyin | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 挂号处 | Guàhàochù | Registration desk |
| 急诊 | Jízhěn | Emergency |
| 门诊 | Ménzhěn | Outpatients |
| 内科 | Nèikē | Internal medicine |
| 外科 | Wàikē | Surgery |
| 儿科 | Érkē | Paediatrics |
| 皮肤科 | Pífūkē | Dermatology |
| 收费处 | Shōufèichù | Cashier |
| 化验 | Huàyàn | Lab tests |
| 取药 | Qǔyào | Medicine collection |
What Laonei does here
Point Laonei's camera at a medicine box, a prescription slip or a corridor sign and it tells you first what the thing is and then reads the lines, keeping the Chinese next to each one. Its translate mode speaks your sentence aloud and shows the reply large enough for a nurse to read off the screen. liuxuesheng.help/talk — and it keeps your health phrases together afterwards.
FAQ
How do I describe symptoms in Chinese at a Chinese hospital? Keep it to three pieces: where, what, how long. Point and say 这里疼 (zhèlǐ téng), then 疼了三天了 (téng le sān tiān le). Add anything critical up front — 我对青霉素过敏 (wǒ duì qīngméisù guòmǐn) for a penicillin allergy — and show it written as well as saying it.
What does 挂号 mean and do I need it before seeing a doctor? 挂号 (guàhào) is registering for a department at the desk or a self-service machine, usually with payment, before you're seen. Say 我要挂号 (wǒ yào guàhào) and 挂哪个科？(guà nǎge kē?) if you're unsure which department. Take your passport — registration is normally tied to it.
Can I buy medicine in China without a prescription? Many common medicines are sold over the counter at a 药店 (yàodiàn); others, including most antibiotics, require a prescription from a doctor. Ask 有什么药？(yǒu shénme yào?) and check the dosage before leaving: 一天吃几次？(yì tiān chī jǐ cì?). If you take something regularly, bring your own supply and the packaging.