3 · 40 words

Health and the doctor

Symptoms, tests and treatment, from registering at the hospital to going home.

At a Chinese hospital you first 挂号(guàhào) — register at a counter and pay for the consultation — before you see anyone. Complaints are often said with the body part straight after the person: 我(wǒ)头疼(tóuténg), “I have a headache”, literally “I head-hurt”, with no “my” needed. Many words for treatment are a verb with its object built in, such as 打针(dǎzhēn), to have an injection, and 住院(zhùyuàn), to stay in hospital — so they can be split: 住(zhù)了(le)三(sān)天(tiān)院(yuàn), three days in hospital.

The words

Verb (26)

挂号(guàhào)to register (at a hospital)Verb3

看病(kànbìng)以前(yǐqián)要(yào)先(xiān)挂号(guàhào)。You have to register before you see the doctor.

Also of post: 挂号信(guàhàoxìn), a registered letter.

打针(dǎzhēn)to give or have an injectionVerb3

医生(yīshēng)说(shuō)不用(búyòng)打针(dǎzhēn)，吃(chī)药(yào)就(jiù)行(xíng)。The doctor said I don't need an injection; tablets will do.

住院(zhùyuàn)to be in hospitalVerb3

她(tā)住(zhù)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)星期(xīngqī)的(de)院(yuàn)。She was in hospital for a week.

过敏(guòmǐn)to be allergic; allergyVerb3

我(wǒ)对(duì)花生(huāshēng)过敏(guòmǐn)。I'm allergic to peanuts.

The cause comes first, with 对(duì).

咳嗽(késou)to coughVerb3

他(tā)咳嗽(késou)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)晚上(wǎnshang)。He was coughing all night.

头疼(tóuténg)to have a headacheVerb3

我(wǒ)今天(jīntiān)有点儿(yǒudiǎnr)头疼(tóuténg)。I've got a bit of a headache today.

Also figurative: 这(zhè)件(jiàn)事(shì)真(zhēn)让(ràng)人(rén)头疼(tóuténg), this is a real headache.

减肥(jiǎnféi)to lose weight; to be on a dietVerb3

她(tā)在(zài)减肥(jiǎnféi)，晚上(wǎnshang)不(bù)吃(chī)米饭(mǐfàn)。She's on a diet and doesn't eat rice in the evening.

出院(chūyuàn)to leave hospitalVerb3

医生(yīshēng)说(shuō)他(tā)下(xià)个(ge)星期(xīngqī)可以(kěyǐ)出院(chūyuàn)。The doctor says he can go home from hospital next week.

输液(shūyè)to be on a dripVerb3

她(tā)在(zài)医院(yīyuàn)输(shū)了(le)三(sān)天(tiān)液(yè)。She was on a drip in hospital for three days.

In speech also 打(dǎ)点滴(diǎndī).

牙疼(yáténg)to have toothacheVerb3

他(tā)牙疼(yáténg)得(de)吃不下(chībuxià)饭(fàn)。His toothache is so bad he can't eat.

拔牙(báyá)to have a tooth outVerb3

牙疼(yáténg)得(de)厉害(lìhai)，医生(yīshēng)说(shuō)得(děi)拔牙(báyá)。The tooth hurt badly, and the dentist said it had to come out.

预约(yùyuē)to make an appointment; to bookVerb3

看(kàn)这(zhè)位(wèi)医生(yīshēng)要(yào)提前(tíqián)预约(yùyuē)。To see this doctor you need to book in advance.

治(zhì)to treat; to cureVerb3

别(bié)担心(dānxīn)，这(zhè)种(zhǒng)病(bìng)能(néng)治好(zhìhǎo)。Don't worry — this illness can be cured.

打喷嚏(dǎpēntì)to sneezeVerb3

我(wǒ)一(yí)进(jìn)这(zhè)个(ge)房间(fángjiān)就(jiù)打喷嚏(dǎpēntì)。As soon as I come into this room I start sneezing.

消化(xiāohuà)to digest; digestionVerb3

晚饭(wǎnfàn)吃(chī)得(de)太(tài)油(yóu)，不(bù)容易(róngyì)消化(xiāohuà)。A greasy dinner is hard to digest.

退烧(tuìshāo)(of a fever) to go downVerb3

吃(chī)了(le)药(yào)以后(yǐhòu)，孩子(háizi)慢慢(mànmàn)退烧(tuìshāo)了(le)。After the medicine, the child's fever slowly came down.

流鼻涕(liúbítì)to have a runny noseVerb3

我(wǒ)感冒(gǎnmào)了(le)，一直(yìzhí)流鼻涕(liúbítì)。I've got a cold and my nose won't stop running.

晕车(yùnchē)to be carsickVerb3

我(wǒ)坐(zuò)长途(chángtú)汽车(qìchē)容易(róngyì)晕车(yùnchē)。I easily get carsick on long coach journeys.

Here 晕(yùn) is yùn; in 头晕(tóuyūn) it is yūn.

中暑(zhòngshǔ)to get heatstrokeVerb3

天气(tiānqì)太(tài)热(rè)，好(hǎo)几(jǐ)个(ge)工人(gōngrén)中暑(zhòngshǔ)了(le)。It was so hot that several workers got heatstroke.

Here 中(zhòng) is zhòng, “to be hit by”.

发炎(fāyán)to become inflamed; to get infectedVerb3

伤口(shāngkǒu)发炎(fāyán)了(le)，得(děi)去(qù)医院(yīyuàn)看看(kànkan)。The cut has got infected — it needs looking at in hospital.

化验(huàyàn)to test (in a laboratory)Verb3

医生(yīshēng)让(ràng)我(wǒ)先(xiān)去(qù)化验(huàyàn)一下(yíxià)。The doctor told me to go and have some tests done first.

验血(yànxuè)to have a blood testVerb3

明天(míngtiān)早上(zǎoshang)验血(yànxuè)，今天(jīntiān)晚上(wǎnshang)不(bù)能(néng)吃(chī)东西(dōngxi)。I'm having a blood test tomorrow morning, so I can't eat anything tonight.

In everyday speech also yànxiě.

复查(fùchá)to have a follow-up checkVerb3

医生(yīshēng)让(ràng)他(tā)一(yí)个(ge)月(yuè)以后(yǐhòu)来(lái)复查(fùchá)。The doctor told him to come back for a check-up in a month.

开药(kāiyào)to prescribe medicineVerb3

医生(yīshēng)给(gěi)我(wǒ)开(kāi)了(le)一些(yìxiē)感冒(gǎnmào)药(yào)。The doctor prescribed me some cold medicine.

骨折(gǔzhé)to fracture (a bone); fractureVerb3

他(tā)踢(tī)足球(zúqiú)的(de)时候(shíhou)腿(tuǐ)骨折(gǔzhé)了(le)。He broke his leg playing football.

晕倒(yūndǎo)to faintVerb3

她(tā)在(zài)地铁(dìtiě)里(lǐ)晕倒(yūndǎo)了(le)，大家(dàjiā)马上(mǎshàng)叫(jiào)了(le)医生(yīshēng)。She fainted on the underground, and people called a doctor at once.

Noun (8)

手术(shǒushù)operation; surgeryNoun3

手术(shǒushù)很(hěn)成功(chénggōng)，她(tā)很(hěn)快(kuài)就(jiù)能(néng)下(xià)床(chuáng)了(le)。The operation went well, and she will soon be up and about.

Having an operation is 做(zuò)手术(shǒushù).

体温(tǐwēn)body temperatureNoun3

他(tā)的(de)体温(tǐwēn)是(shì)三十八(sānshíbā)度(dù)。His temperature is thirty-eight degrees.

伤口(shāngkǒu)wound; cutNoun3

伤口(shāngkǒu)还(hái)没(méi)好(hǎo)，不(bú)要(yào)碰(pèng)水(shuǐ)。The cut hasn't healed yet, so don't get it wet.

药片(yàopiàn)tablet; pillNoun3

这(zhè)种(zhǒng)药片(yàopiàn)每(měi)次(cì)吃(chī)两(liǎng)片(piàn)。Take two of these tablets each time.

药水(yàoshuǐ)liquid medicineNoun3

这(zhè)瓶(píng)药水(yàoshuǐ)一(yì)天(tiān)喝(hē)三(sān)次(cì)。Take this medicine three times a day.

药膏(yàogāo)ointment; creamNoun3

把(bǎ)药膏(yàogāo)涂(tú)在(zài)伤口(shāngkǒu)上(shàng)。Put the ointment on the cut.

创可贴(chuāngkětiē)plaster (for a small cut)Noun3

手(shǒu)破(pò)了(le)，贴(tiē)个(ge)创可贴(chuāngkětiē)吧(ba)。You've cut your hand — put a plaster on it.

Here 创(chuāng) is chuāng, as in a wound.

病历(bìnglì)medical recordNoun3

看病(kànbìng)的(de)时候(shíhou)别(bié)忘(wàng)了(le)带(dài)病历(bìnglì)。Don't forget your medical record when you see the doctor.

Adjective (6)

健康(jiànkāng)healthy; healthAdjective3

爷爷(yéye)八十(bāshí)岁(suì)了(le)，身体(shēntǐ)还(hái)很(hěn)健康(jiànkāng)。Grandpa is eighty and still in very good health.

近视(jìnshì)short-sightedAdjective3

我(wǒ)有点儿(yǒudiǎnr)近视(jìnshì)，看不清楚(kànbuqīngchu)黑板(hēibǎn)。I'm a bit short-sighted and can't see the board clearly.

头晕(tóuyūn)dizzyAdjective3

我(wǒ)站(zhàn)起来(qilai)的(de)时候(shíhou)有点儿(yǒudiǎnr)头晕(tóuyūn)。I feel a bit dizzy when I stand up.

恶心(ěxin)nauseous; disgustingAdjective3

坐(zuò)船(chuán)的(de)时候(shíhou)我(wǒ)觉得(juéde)有点儿(yǒudiǎnr)恶心(ěxin)。I felt a little sick on the boat.

Also “disgusting”, of things and of behaviour.

痒(yǎng)itchyAdjective3

被(bèi)蚊子(wénzi)咬(yǎo)了(le)，腿(tuǐ)上(shàng)很(hěn)痒(yǎng)。I've been bitten by a mosquito and my leg really itches.

肿(zhǒng)swollenAdjective3

他(tā)的(de)脚(jiǎo)肿(zhǒng)了(le)，走不了(zǒubuliǎo)路(lù)。His foot is swollen and he can't walk.

This list belongs to Body and health — seven lists and 281 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.