Make sure to seek the advice of a medical professional. The information on this website (or the ShigaJET Wiki) does not constitute medical advice.
Accessing healthcare in Japan
Carry your insurance card with you at all times in case of emergency (including when travelling). If you do not have your insurance card with you, you will be required to pay upfront for all medical costs.
Japanese medical vocabulary
受付 (uketsuke), reception
保険証 (hokensho), insurance card
初診 (shoshin), first visit
診察 (shinsatsu), medical examination
診察券 (shinsatuken), patient ID card that is specific to that hospital (you will present this card upon future visits)
診察室 (shinsatushitsu), medical examination room
診察の予約をお願いします。 (Shinsatsu no yoyaku o onegaishimasu.) I’d like to make an appointment to see the doctor. (literally: "Please give me a medical examination appointment.")
会計窓口 (kaikeimadoguchi), bill
Symptoms
痛い (itai), hurts
頭痛 (zutsū), headache
熱 (netsu), fever
微熱 (binetsu), slight fever
発熱 (hatsunetsu), “the start of a fever”
鼻水 (hanamizu), runny nose
咳 (seki), cough
めまい (memai), dizziness
風邪 (kaze), cold
鼻づまり (hanazumari), stuffy nose/congestion
悪寒 (okan), chills/shakes
花粉症 (kafunshou), hay fever, pollinosis
花粉 (kafun), pollen
アレルギー (arerugii), allergy
虫さされ/虫刺され (mushi sasare), insect bite
かゆみ (kayumi), itching
Describing your condition(s)
symptom ~がひどいです。(symptom ~ga hidoi desu), ~ is really bad
body part ~がとても痛いです。 (body part ~ga totemo itai desu), ~ really hurts
body part ~がちょっと痛いです。(body part ~ga chotto itai desu), ~ hurts a little
ここが痛いです (koko ga itai desu), it hurts here.
頭痛です。 (Zutsu desu.) I have a headache.
ひどい咳がでます。 (Hidoi seki ga demasu.) I have a bad cough.
熱があります。 (Netsu ga arimasu.) I have a fever.
下痢です。 (Geri desu.) I have diarrhea.
便秘です。 (Benpi desu.) I have constipation.
吐き気がします。 (Hakike ga shimasu.) I feel nauseous.
めまいがします。 (Memai ga shimasu.) I’m dizzy.
よく眠れません。 (Yoku nemuremasen.) I can’t sleep.
痛くないです。(itakunai desu), It doesn't hurt
Body Parts
頭 (atama), head
お腹 (onaka), stomach
喉 (nodo), throat
胸 (mune), chest
目 (me), eyes
背中 (senaka), back
When
今日 (kyou), today
今朝 (kesa), this morning
昨日 (kinou), yesterday
昨日の夜 (kinou no yoru), last night
おととい (ototoi), the day before yesterday
Medicine
薬 (kusuri) medicine
痛み止め (itamedome) pain killers
風邪薬 (kazegusuri) cold medicine / cures
錠剤 (jouzai) tablets / lozenges
薬局 (yakkyoku), pharmacy
ジェル (jeru), gel
ローション (rooshon), lotion
パッチ (pacchi), patch
クリーム (kuriimu), cream
液体 (ekitai), fluid
しつこい (shitsukoi)/しぶとい (shibutoi), persistent
ひどい (hidoi), strong/severe
These 3 words can be used to describe the severity of symptoms. Japanese also has many onomatopeia words - you can also try to consult a dictionary
Carry your insurance card with you at all times in case of emergency (including when travelling). If you do not have your insurance card with you, you will be required to pay upfront for all medical costs.
- An overview of Japanese clinics and hospitals is available here: matcha-jp.com/en/9911
Japanese medical vocabulary
受付 (uketsuke), reception
保険証 (hokensho), insurance card
初診 (shoshin), first visit
診察 (shinsatsu), medical examination
診察券 (shinsatuken), patient ID card that is specific to that hospital (you will present this card upon future visits)
診察室 (shinsatushitsu), medical examination room
診察の予約をお願いします。 (Shinsatsu no yoyaku o onegaishimasu.) I’d like to make an appointment to see the doctor. (literally: "Please give me a medical examination appointment.")
会計窓口 (kaikeimadoguchi), bill
Symptoms
痛い (itai), hurts
頭痛 (zutsū), headache
熱 (netsu), fever
微熱 (binetsu), slight fever
発熱 (hatsunetsu), “the start of a fever”
鼻水 (hanamizu), runny nose
咳 (seki), cough
めまい (memai), dizziness
風邪 (kaze), cold
鼻づまり (hanazumari), stuffy nose/congestion
悪寒 (okan), chills/shakes
花粉症 (kafunshou), hay fever, pollinosis
花粉 (kafun), pollen
アレルギー (arerugii), allergy
虫さされ/虫刺され (mushi sasare), insect bite
かゆみ (kayumi), itching
Describing your condition(s)
symptom ~がひどいです。(symptom ~ga hidoi desu), ~ is really bad
body part ~がとても痛いです。 (body part ~ga totemo itai desu), ~ really hurts
body part ~がちょっと痛いです。(body part ~ga chotto itai desu), ~ hurts a little
ここが痛いです (koko ga itai desu), it hurts here.
頭痛です。 (Zutsu desu.) I have a headache.
ひどい咳がでます。 (Hidoi seki ga demasu.) I have a bad cough.
熱があります。 (Netsu ga arimasu.) I have a fever.
下痢です。 (Geri desu.) I have diarrhea.
便秘です。 (Benpi desu.) I have constipation.
吐き気がします。 (Hakike ga shimasu.) I feel nauseous.
めまいがします。 (Memai ga shimasu.) I’m dizzy.
よく眠れません。 (Yoku nemuremasen.) I can’t sleep.
痛くないです。(itakunai desu), It doesn't hurt
Body Parts
頭 (atama), head
お腹 (onaka), stomach
喉 (nodo), throat
胸 (mune), chest
目 (me), eyes
背中 (senaka), back
When
今日 (kyou), today
今朝 (kesa), this morning
昨日 (kinou), yesterday
昨日の夜 (kinou no yoru), last night
おととい (ototoi), the day before yesterday
Medicine
薬 (kusuri) medicine
痛み止め (itamedome) pain killers
風邪薬 (kazegusuri) cold medicine / cures
錠剤 (jouzai) tablets / lozenges
薬局 (yakkyoku), pharmacy
ジェル (jeru), gel
ローション (rooshon), lotion
パッチ (pacchi), patch
クリーム (kuriimu), cream
液体 (ekitai), fluid
しつこい (shitsukoi)/しぶとい (shibutoi), persistent
ひどい (hidoi), strong/severe
These 3 words can be used to describe the severity of symptoms. Japanese also has many onomatopeia words - you can also try to consult a dictionary