Visiting the Doctor
In Japan the system of clinics and hospitals might be different than what you are used to.
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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.
- An overview of Japanese clinics and hospitals is available here: matcha-jp.com/en/9911
Useful Vocabulary
Use the dropdown menus below to look up useful vocabulary that can be used in a medical setting.
Japanese Medical Vocabulary
日本語 |
English |
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 |
会計窓口 (kaikeimadoguchi) |
bill |
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.") |
Symptoms
日本語 |
English |
痛い (itai) |
hurts |
頭痛 (zutsū) |
headache |
熱 (netsu) |
fever |
微熱 (binetsu) |
slight fever |
発熱 (hatsunetsu) |
the start of a fever |
風邪 (kaze) |
cold |
咳 (seki) |
cough |
鼻水 (hanamizu) |
runny nose |
鼻づまり (hanazumari) |
stuffy nose/congestion |
アレルギー (arerugii) |
allergy |
花粉症 (kafunshou) |
hay fever, pollinosis |
花粉 (kafun) |
pollen |
めまい (memai) |
dizziness |
悪寒 (okan) |
chills/shakes |
虫さされ/虫刺され (mushi sasare) |
insect bite |
かゆみ (kayumi) |
itching |
Body Parts
日本語 |
English |
頭 (atama) |
head |
お腹 (onaka) |
stomach |
喉 (nodo) |
throat |
胸 (mune) |
chest |
目 (me) |
eyes |
背中 (senaka) |
back |
Medicine
日本語 |
English |
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 |
Describing your condition
日本語 |
English |
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. |
しつこい (shitsukoi) |
persistent |
ひどい (hidoi) |
strong/severe |
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 |
