After battling a little cold, we thought it would be a good idea to chat about language surrounding being sick, hospitals, medicine, and so on! Once you're in Korea, getting the medicine and attention that you need is critical and hopefully this helps you get better faster.

Symptoms (증상) 🌡️

One of the first things that's needed is actually saying that something hurts or feels bad. The key word here is: 아프다 (to hurt). 

What's wrong? How to say it in Korean Headache 머리가 (head) 아파요 (hurts) Sore throat 목이 (throat) 아파요 Stomachache 배가 (stomach) 아파요 Toothache 이가 (tooth) 아파요 Backache 허리가 (back) 아파요

By just being able to say that something hurts, this should be a good start for getting treated. After that, though, it would be useful to be more specific about what you're feeling or what's going on. Let's look at some common symptoms for a cold or flu:

Symptom How to say it in Korean Coughing 기침해요 / 기침이 (cough) 나요 (to come out, appear) Runny nose 콧(nose)물(water)이 나요 Stuffy nose 코가 (nose) 막혀요 (clogged) I have a fever 열이 (fever) 있어요 (exist, have) I feel chills 오한이 (chills) 나요

Hospital Departments (병원과) 🏥

At this point you can go see a doctor to help get some medication for what's wrong. Depending upon your symptoms, it'll determine which doctor or department would be best. 

Here are a few departments (과) that tend to cover most of what you need:

내(internal)과 = internal medicine

외(outside)과 = general surgery

소아(kids)과 = pediatrics

치(teeth)과 = dentist

안(eye, Sino-Korean)과 = ophthalmology

이(ear, Sino-Korean)비(nose, Sino-Korean)인후(throat, Sino-Korean)과 = ENT (ear, nose, & throat)

피부(skin)과 = dermatology

Medicine (약) 💊

After visiting the doctor, they'll give you a prescription to some medicine. Once you head on over to the pharmacy (약국), you'll get which medicine is right for you. Below are just a few of the types of medicine that you're likely to see when you go. 

감기(cold)약 = cold medicine

두통약 = headache medicine

기침약 = cough medicine

설사약 = diarrhea medicine

멀미약 = motion sickness medicine

알레르기약 = allergy medicine

소화제 = digestive aid

In addition, each of these medicines can be given in a variety of forms, but most likely one of the following three forms:

물(water)약 = syrup (the really bad tasting kind)

알(egg, ball)약 = tablets

가루(powder)약 = powdered medicine (가루, like 고추가루 (red pepper powder))

Bonus! 🎁

Sort of related to medicine, but is a common proverb is:

병주고 약주고 = to give sickness and the cure

This is usually used in the context of something or someone doing something bad to you, then pretending to help. For instance, if your partner playfully hits you a little too hard, then immediately tends to you afterwards, it's totally natural to say:

"야! 너는 진짜 병 주고 약 주고! 아이고...." 

If you made it this far, thanks!

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Have a good rest of your Sunday!

지혜 & Ian

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