100+ Handy Korean Medical Words and Phrases

Whenever I learn a new language, I make it a point to immediately study medical terminology—words that have to do with medicine, diseases and hospitals. I recommend that you do the same early on in your Korean studies, because you never know when a situation might strike.

Since we’ll often be talking about the body here, you might want to review the different parts of the body in Korean. After that, check out these critical medical Korean terms that can help you out in a pinch.

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Basic Medical Information in Korean

Before anything else, when you first enter a medical facility, there are a few basic things that the doctors and nurses will want to learn about you ASAP.

나이  (na-i) — Age

혈압  (hyeol-ap) — Blood pressure

혈액형 (hyeol-aek-hyeong) — Blood type

체온  (che-on) — Body temperature

진찰  (jin-chal) — Examination

키  (ki) — Height

검진 (gum-jin) — Medical examination

병력  (byeong-ryeok) — Medical history

분위기  (bun-wi-gi) — Mood

환자  (hwan-ja) — Patient

맥박  (maeg-bag) — Pulse

증상 (jeung-sang) — Symptom

무게  (mu-gae) — Weight

Conditions and Symptoms in Korean

Properly describing and understanding what’s bothering you is key to getting the right treatment. These are some common ailments and symptoms that you definitely should learn.

알레르기  (al-le-reu-gi) — Allergy

빈혈증  (bin-hyeol-jeung) — Anemia

천식  (cheon-sik) — Asthma

흐릿한 시야 (heu-lit-han si-ya) — Blurry vision

멍 (mung) — Bruise

암  (am) — Cancer

감기  (gam-gi) — Cold

뇌진탕  (noe-jin-tang) — Concussion

변비  (byeon-bi) — Constipation

기침  (gi-chim) — Cough

탈수  (tal-su) — Dehydration

당뇨병  (dang-nyo-byeong) — Diabetes

설사  (seol-sa) — Diarrhea

질환  (jil-hwan) — Disease

어지러움  (eo-ji-leo-um) — Dizzy

간질  (gan-jil) — Epilepsy

피로 (pi-ro) — Fatigue

열  (yeol) — Fever

독감 (dok-gam) — Flu

두통 (du-tong) — Headache

고혈압  (go-hyeol-ab) — High blood pressure

고열  (go-yeol) — High fever

전염 (jeon-yeom) — Infection

염증  (yum-jeung) — Inflammation

저혈압  (jeo-hyeol-ap) — Low blood pressure

코 막힘  (ko mak-him) — Nasal congestion

메스꺼움 (me-seu-kkeo-um) — Nauseous

아픔  (a-peum) — Pain

마비  (ma-bi) — Paralysis / stroke

발진 (bal-jin) — Rash

콧물  (kot-mul) — Runny nose

떨다  (tteol-da) — Shiver

부종  (bu-jong) — Swelling

따끔  (tta-kkeum) — Tingling

치통  (chi-tong) — Toothache

종양  (jong-yang) — Tumor

자상  (ja-sang) — Stab wound

복통  (bok-tong) — Stomachache

구토  (gu-to) — Vomiting

천명음  (cheon-myeong-eum) — Wheezing

상처  (sang-cheo) — Wound

Medicine and Treatments in Korean

I’ve gone to plenty of native Korean doctors and Korean pharmacies. In my experience, they can certainly relay basic treatment options to you in English, but it’s for your benefit that you also learn the Korean terms for them. It’s guaranteed that you’ll hear them being used, directed to you or not.

마취제  (ma-chwi-je) — Anesthetic

제산제 (je-san-je)  — Antacid

항생제  (hang-saeng-je) — Antibiotic

항우울제 (hang-u-ul-je) — Antidepressant

항히스타민제 (hang-hi-seu-ta-min-je) — Antihistamine

아스피린 (a-seu-pi-rin) — Aspirin

붕대  (bung-dae) — Bandage

압박 붕대  (ap-bak bung-dae) — Compress

기침약  (gi-chim-yak) — Cough syrup

진단 (jin-dan) — Diagnosis

내시경  (nae-si-gyung) — Endoscopy

운동 (un-dong) — Exercise

거즈  (geo-jeu) — Gauze

정맥액 (jeong-maek-aeg) — IV / intravenous fluid

완하제 (wan-ha-je) — Laxative

약  (yak) — Medicine

연고  (yeon-go) — Ointment

수술 (su-sul) — Operation

진통제 (jin-tong-je) — Painkiller

처방전  (cheo-bang-jeon) — Prescription

주사 (ju-sa) — Shot

잠 (jam) — Sleep

스테로이드  (seu-te-ro-i-deu) — Steroid

좌약  (jwa-yak) — Suppository

외과 (oe-gwa) — Surgery

요법  (yo-beop) — Therapy

초음파  (cho-eum-pa) — Ultrasound

백신  (baek-sin) — Vaccine

비타민 (bi-ta-min) — Vitamin

엑스레이  (eg-seu-le-i) — X-ray

Medical Specialists in Korean

The Korean word for “doctor” is  의사 (ui-sa).

You can refer to a doctor with a specialty in this format: field/part of the body + 의사.

For example, a dermatologist is known as  피부과 의사 (pi-bu-gwa ui-sa) because the dermatologist treats skin problems, and skin in Korean is  피부 (pi-bu). Literally, dermatologists are called “skin doctors.”

As a sign of respect, we add  선생님 (seon-saeng-nim) to 의사 (ui-sa). It’s a polite titular used for doctors and teachers.

Note that if the doctor you’re referring to isn’t an M.D. but a Ph.D., the term you use is  박사 (bak-sa).

심장병 전문의  (sim-jang-byeong jeon-mun-ui) — Cardiologist

치과 의사  (chi-gwa ui-sa) — Dentist

피부과 의사 (pi-bu-gwa ui-sa) — Dermatologist

이비인후과 의사 (i-bi-in-hu-gwa ui-sa) — Ear, nose and throat doctor

안과 의사 (an-gwa ui-sa) — Eye doctor

위장병 전문의 (wi-jang-byeong jeon-mun-ui) — Gastroenterologist

산부인과 의사  (san-bu-in-gwa ui-sa) — Obstetrician and gynecologist (OBGYN)

신경과 전문의  (shin-kyeong-gwa jeon-mun-ui) — Neurologist

간호사 (gan-ho-sa) — Nurse

종양학자  (jong-yang-hak-ja) — Oncologist

정형 외과 의사 (jeong-hyeong oe-gwa ui-sa) — Orthopedist

소아과 의사  (so-a-gwa ui-sa) — Pediatrician

약사  (yak-sa) — Pharmacist

내과 의사  (nae-gwa ui-sa) — Physician

성형외과 (seung-hyeong-oe-gwa) — Plastic surgeon

발병 전문의  (bal-byeong jeon-mun-ui) — Podiatrist

정신과 의사 (jeong-shin-gwa ui-sa) — Psychiatrist

류마티스 전문의  (ryu-ma-ti-seu jeon-mun-ui) — Rheumatologist

외과 의사 (oe-gwa ui-sa) — Surgeon

치료사  (chi-ryo-sa) — Therapist

비뇨기과 의사  (bi-nyo-gi-gwa ui-sa) — Urologist

Medical Settings in Korean

Of course, it’s likely that you’ll be placed and shuffled along to somewhere specific during your medical-related visit. Here are the most common places:

산후조리원  (san-hu-jo-ri-won) — Birthcare center

혈액 은행  (hyeol-aeg eun-haeng) — Blood bank

진료소  (jin-ryo-so) — Clinic / consultation room

퇴원  (toe-won) — Discharge (from hospital)

응급실  (eung-geup-sil) — Emergency room

병원 (byeong-won) — Hospital

중환자실  (joong-hwan-ja-sil) — Intensive care unit

수술실  (su-sul-sil) — Operation theater

정신재활 병원 (jeong-shin-jae-hwal byeong-won) — Mental health center

보육실  (bo-yook-sil) — Nursery

요양원  (yo-yang-won) — Nursing home

환자실  (hwan-ja-sil) — Patient room

약국  (yak-gook) — Pharmacy

회복실  (hoe-bog-sil) — Recovery room

재활 센터  (jae-hwal sen-te0) — Rehab center

긴급 치료 센터 (gin-gip chi-ryo sen-teo) — Urgent care center

대기실  (dae-gi-sil) — Waiting room

Useful Korean Phrases for Emergencies

In the case that you find yourself in an emergency in a Korean-dominant setting, you should have these phrases canned and ready to go. Native speakers can assist you better when you tell them what you need.

Here are some phrases that are literally lifesavers.

구급차 (gu-geup-cha) — Ambulance

아파요 . (A-pa-yo.) — I’m sick.

 도와주세요 . (Do-wa-ju-se-yo.) — Please help me.

 제일 가까운 병원으로 가주세요 . (Je-il ga-gga-oon byung-won-eu-ro ga-ju-se-yo.) — Please take me to the nearest hospital.

저는 의사가 필요해요 . (Jeo-neun ui-sa-ga pi-ryo-hae-yo.) — I need a doctor.

여기가아파요 . (Yuh-gi-ga ah-pa-yo.) — It hurts here.

When you want to tell the doctor about your condition, you can use the following format:

_____ 이 있어요 . (_____-ee i-ssuh-yo.) — I have _____.

Simply plug in the things that ail you: 설사 (diarrhea), 알레르기 (allergy), 천식 (asthma), etc.

For example:

천식이 있어요 . (Cheon-shik-ee i-ssuh-yo.) — I have asthma.

Korean Medical Dramas to Practice Vocabulary

In my opinion, one of the best ways to learn about Korean medical terms is to watch dramas involving doctors and nurses, and hospital life in general.

Their entertainment factor can make it even easier for you to memorize all the vocabulary with little issue. As the wisdom goes, a spoonful of sugar helps make the medicine go down.

If you just want to check out quick clips involving the relevant words you want to study, then consider using FluentU.

If you’re ready to binge a whole show, however, here are five of the many Korean dramas that I highly recommend you check out!

“Hospital Playlist”

How ‘bout doctors who share a deep fondness for music? “Hospital Playlist” is a drama about five friends from med school who, after 20 years, find themselves working in the same hospital. The show follows the goings-on in the Yulje Medical Center where our five physicians spend their professional lives. The setting provides you with all the practical medical jargon you could need, as well as makes you fall for the lovable lead characters and their highly relatable patients.

“Good Doctor”

Joo Won brilliantly plays Park Shion—an autistic savant—who navigates hospital life amidst the jealousy of his colleagues and the doubts of his patients. Shion is a pediatric surgery resident at Sungwon University Hospital trying to prove his skills, sanity and stability for the job. Will a genius doctor, but with the mind of a 10-year old, be able to thrive in a highly competitive field, and at the same time have a burgeoning love life?

Joo Won’s portrayal was so nuanced, it won him the Actor of the Year prize at the 2013 KBS Drama Awards.

“Hospital Ship”

This drama’s setting is a small ship that moves around remote islands in Korea, rendering medical services to people typically out of reach by regular hospitals.

The floating clinic is staffed by doctors, each with a personal backstory and struggles of their own. Eunjae is a very talented surgeon in charge of leading a big hospital in Seoul, Kwakhyun is a doctor with a good heart (but with a few emotional scars) and Jaegeol is trying to escape his father’s shadow.

You’ll not only learn how medical terms are used in context, but you’ll also be more attuned to the foibles of the human condition. This one is an engaging watch.

“Doctor Stranger”

Park Hoon accompanies his father to North Korea to perform surgery on its leader, Kim Ilsung. What was supposed to be a simple mission turns into years in the North. Park Hoon blossoms into a doctor as good as his father and meets the love of his life there.

After the death of his father, Park Hoon is able to flee North Korea and begin anew working in a top hospital in Seoul. His soulmate, Jaehee, is left behind, but he is determined to reunite with her.

As things would have it, there’s another doctor in his hospital who looks exactly like Jaehee. Is it really her? If so, then why is she treating him like a complete stranger?

Out of all the shows in this list, I have to say this one pretty puts the capital D in Drama. But hey, you’ll be learning plenty of useful doctor lingo!

“Dr. Romantic”

An incredibly talented surgeon suddenly vanishes from his workplace. Using a new alias, although informally known as “Dr. Romantic,” he now lends his talents to a humble hospital away from the mainstream. However, his priorities aren’t purely technical and “by-the-book” in nature. To him, sympathy and thoughtfulness are also key to proper medical treatment.

If only we all had a Dr. Romantic present in our hospital experiences! Grab your Korean studies notebook and your thinking cap, because the medical intrigue in this series can get seriously potent.

Helpful Resources to Study Korean Medical Terms

If all of the above still doesn’t scratch that Korean learning itch, then check out these useful study resources as supplemental material.

Medline Plus

If you really want to up your vocabulary game (or if you’re aspiring to be an actual multilingual doctor), then look no further than Medline Plus’s detailed Korean-language health information appendix. It’s fully accurate, with articles showing side-by-side English to Korean translations.

TOPIK Guide

To study up on the bare essentials of proper medical communication, I highly recommend this short guide hosted on the TOPIK Guide website. It’s formatted for beginners and easy to read through. Besides words, it also lists common questions and answers expected between a doctor and patient.

Ling-app

Ling-app also offers a quick summary of essential Korean medicine words. It’s good to check out if you’re in a rush and only need to know the basics of prescription terminology. The guide also includes some instructions on how you can order medicine in a Korean pharmacy.

 

 

Don’t think that medical terms in Korean are just for emergencies and hospital visits.

They can also be useful when talking about good health and well-being, referring to the human body and even making small talk about how you feel on certain days.

Learning them will give you more ways to express yourself and will make your conversations more interesting.

To your health!
 

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)