Being able to describe health issues is essential when traveling or living in China. This lesson covers body parts, common symptoms, visiting the doctor, pharmacy vocabulary, and the fascinating world of Traditional Chinese Medicine (中医).
Estimated Time: 50–60 minutes
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 头 | tóu | head | 手 | shǒu | hand |
| 眼睛 | yǎnjing | eyes | 手指 | shǒuzhǐ | finger |
| 耳朵 | ěrduo | ears | 腿 | tuǐ | leg |
| 鼻子 | bízi | nose | 脚 | jiǎo | foot |
| 嘴 | zuǐ | mouth | 背 | bèi | back |
| 牙齿 | yáchǐ | teeth | 肩膀 | jiānbǎng | shoulder |
| 脖子 | bózi | neck | 心脏 | xīnzàng | heart |
| 胃 | wèi | stomach | 肚子 | dùzi | belly |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我不舒服 | wǒ bù shūfu | I don't feel well |
| 头疼 | tóu téng | headache |
| 肚子疼 | dùzi téng | stomachache |
| 嗓子疼 | sǎngzi téng | sore throat |
| 发烧 | fā shāo | have a fever |
| 咳嗽 | késou | cough |
| 流鼻涕 | liú bítì | runny nose |
| 拉肚子 | lā dùzi | diarrhea |
| 过敏 | guòmǐn | allergic reaction |
| 受伤了 | shòushāng le | injured |
| 感冒 | gǎnmào | cold (illness) |
| 头晕 | tóu yūn | dizzy |
To say something hurts: [body part] + 疼 (téng, hurts/aches)
头疼 (headache) · 牙疼 (toothache) · 腿疼 (leg hurts) · 背疼 (backache)
To say "my head hurts": 我头疼 (Wǒ tóu téng) — no 的 needed!
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 医院 | yīyuàn | hospital |
| 医生 | yīshēng | doctor |
| 护士 | hùshi | nurse |
| 挂号 | guà hào | register (at hospital) |
| 你哪里不舒服？ | nǐ nǎlǐ bù shūfu? | Where do you feel unwell? |
| 我对...过敏 | wǒ duì...guòmǐn | I'm allergic to... |
| 需要打针吗？ | xūyào dǎ zhēn ma? | Do I need an injection? |
| 开药 | kāi yào | prescribe medicine |
| 多喝热水 | duō hē rè shuǐ | drink more hot water |
💡 Cultural Insight: "多喝热水" (drink more hot water) is the single most common health advice in China — it's practically a meme! Feeling sick? Hot water. Tired? Hot water. Stressed? Hot water. While it's become a joke online, it reflects the deep influence of Traditional Chinese Medicine on everyday life. It's genuinely well-meaning advice, even if it sounds overly simple.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 药店 | yàodiàn | pharmacy |
| 药 | yào | medicine |
| 西药 | xīyào | Western medicine |
| 中药 | zhōngyào | Chinese medicine (herbal) |
| 止痛药 | zhǐtòng yào | painkiller |
| 感冒药 | gǎnmào yào | cold medicine |
| 创可贴 | chuāngkětiē | band-aid |
Traditional Chinese Medicine has been practiced for over 2,000 years and remains widely used alongside Western medicine in China:
针灸 (zhēnjiǔ) — Acupuncture: Thin needles inserted at specific points to balance energy flow
推拿 (tuīná) — Therapeutic massage based on meridian theory
中药 (zhōngyào) — Herbal medicine: Complex formulas using herbs, roots, and minerals
拔罐 (bá guàn) — Cupping therapy: Heated cups create suction on the skin
气功 (qìgōng) — Breathing and movement exercises for health
Most Chinese hospitals have both a 西医 (Western medicine) department and a 中医 department — patients can choose.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 救命！ | jiùmìng! | Help! (life-threatening) |
| 叫救护车！ | jiào jiùhù chē! | Call an ambulance! |
| 急诊 | jízhěn | emergency room |
| 报警 | bào jǐng | call the police |
| 120 | yāo èr líng | Emergency medical number |
| 110 | yāo yāo líng | Police number |
| 119 | yāo yāo jiǔ | Fire department number |
In phone numbers and addresses, 1 is often pronounced yāo instead of yī to avoid confusion with 7 (qī). So 110 is "yāo yāo líng," not "yī yī líng."
Doctor: 你哪里不舒服？(Nǐ nǎlǐ bù shūfu?) — Where do you feel unwell?
Patient: 我头疼，还有点发烧。(Wǒ tóu téng, hái yǒudiǎn fā shāo.) — I have a headache and a slight fever.
Doctor: 咳嗽吗？(Késou ma?) — Any coughing?
Patient: 有一点。嗓子也疼。(Yǒu yìdiǎn. Sǎngzi yě téng.) — A little. My throat hurts too.
Doctor: 你感冒了。我给你开点药。多休息，多喝热水。(Nǐ gǎnmào le. Wǒ gěi nǐ kāi diǎn yào. Duō xiūxi, duō hē rè shuǐ.) — You have a cold. I'll prescribe some medicine. Rest more and drink more hot water.
1. How do you say "I have a stomachache"?
2. What emergency number do you call for medical help in China?
3. What is the most common health advice in China (almost a meme)?
Body parts: 头 (head), 眼睛 (eyes), 胃 (stomach), 手 (hand), 脚 (foot).
Pain pattern: [body part] + 疼 = it hurts. 我头疼 = I have a headache.
Doctor visit: 挂号 (register) → doctor asks 你哪里不舒服？→ 开药 (prescribe medicine).
TCM: Acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping — practiced alongside Western medicine.
Emergency numbers: 120 (ambulance), 110 (police), 119 (fire). Say 1 as "yāo."