💊 Describing Symptoms at a Hospital (두통, 감기) – Intermediate Level (TOPIK 3–4)
.jpg "Describing Symptoms at a Hospital | TOPIK 3–4")
Visiting a hospital in Korea can feel overwhelming if you don’t know the right words. In this lesson, you’ll learn practical expressions to describe your symptoms clearly — so doctors and nurses understand exactly what you mean.
🎯 Learning Goal | 학습 목표
- Learn essential vocabulary for common symptoms and illnesses.
- Practice describing pain levels and discomfort in detail.
- Understand how to effectively communicate with Korean medical staff.
📋 Table of Contents
Click to expand
🗝 Core Symptoms & Terms
- 두통 – headache
- 편두통 – migraine
- 복통 – stomachache
- 근육통 – muscle ache
- 목이 붓다 – sore/swollen throat
- 발열 – fever
- 오한 – chills
- 메스꺼움 – nausea
- 구토 – vomiting
- 피로감 – fatigue
- 호흡 곤란 – difficulty breathing
- 몸살 – body ache (flu-like)
💬 Useful Expressions
- 머리가 아파요. – I have a headache.
- 열이 나고 기침이 나요. – I have a fever and cough.
- 속이 메스꺼워요. – I feel nauseous.
- 근육통이 심해요. – I have severe muscle pain.
- 호흡이 힘들어요. – I have difficulty breathing.
🙋 Practice Dialogue
Doctor: 어디가 아프세요? – Where does it hurt?
Patient: 머리가 심하게 아프고 열이 나요. – I have a severe headache and fever.
Doctor: 언제부터 증상이 있었어요? – Since when have you had these symptoms?
Patient: 어제 밤부터요. 기침도 계속 나요. – Since last night. I also keep coughing.
Doctor: 알겠습니다. 먼저 체온을 재겠습니다. – Okay, let’s check your temperature first.
⚠ Common Mistakes & Fixes
- ❌ 저는 감기에 있습니다 → ✅ 저는 감기에 걸렸습니다
- ❌ 제 머리가 고장났어요 → ✅ 머리가 아파요
- ❌ 저는 열을 먹었어요 → ✅ 열이 나요
- ❌ 기침을 있어요 → ✅ 기침이 나요
- ❌ 배가 폭발했어요 → ✅ 배가 심하게 아파요
👩🏫 Teacher’s Tips
At the hospital, always describe duration, location, and intensity. Example: “Since yesterday, my throat hurts severely when I swallow.” These details help doctors make accurate diagnoses.
병원에서는 기간, 부위, 강도를 함께 설명하는 것이 중요합니다. 예: “어제부터 목이 심하게 아프고 삼킬 때 통증이 있습니다.” 이런 설명은 의사가 정확한 진단을 내리는데 큰 도움이 됩니다.
📝 Pop Quiz
Fill in the blanks with the right word:
- 저는 ____이 나요. (I have a fever.)
Show Answer
발열 - 어제부터 ____ 때문에 밥을 못 먹었어요. (Because of nausea)
Show Answer
메스꺼움 - 저는 어제부터 ____이 심해요. (I have severe muscle pain.)
Show Answer
근육통
🌀 Say What?
골골하다 – A casual way to say you feel weak or sickly. Example: 요즘 감기 때문에 골골해요. (I feel weak because of a cold these days.)
📌 Did You Know?
In Korea, many hospitals stay open late, and 24-hour pharmacies (yakguk) are common in cities. This makes it convenient to get treatment outside typical working hours.
🔗 Extra Resources
If this lesson was tricky, check out these resources for more support:
I’ll keep improving these lessons, but for now, please use these references as well. My goal is to truly help you study Korean with confidence. 💙
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✍️ About the Author
Hello! I’m a Korean language tutor who loves helping learners sound natural and confident. Want personalized practice? Book a lesson with me on italki and start improving today!
