If you need to visit a doctor in Japan, you might run into some difficulties when communicating. While there are English speaking doctors or staff at some clinics and hospitals in Japan, the majority of places only understand Japanese. Even if you can find an English-speaking doctor, they might not be completely fluent and might have trouble understanding your requests. While most doctors in Japan are very helpful, learning some Japanese can make your visit go much smoother and thorough.
These phrases use polite, formal Japanese. While there are more casual phrases that you could use, it’s usually much better to use more formal Japanese. You can sound rude or unsophisticated if you use phrases that are too casual. So we opted to use more polite Japanese phrases. This way, you can be sure that your Japanese will sound polite and the doctors and staff will appreciate it too!
Contents
- Pre-Visit Inquiries (Making an Appointment, Asking for Information, etc.)
- Entering the Doctor’s Office (Reception)
- Talking to the Doctor (Describing Your Condition, Symptoms, etc.)
- Questions to Ask the Doctor
- Talking to Receptionist (Paying the Bill, Asking Questions, etc.)
- Getting Medicine (Going to the Pharmacy, Picking Up/Buying, Questions, etc.)
- Unique/Miscellaneous Requests
Pre-Visit Inquiries (Making an Appointment, Asking for Information, etc.)
Scheduling an Appointment
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 予約 | よ やく | yoyaku | appointment/reservation |
| 変更 | へんこう | henkou | change, modification, alteration |
1. I’d like to make an appointment. – 予約(よやく)をしたいんですが。(yoyaku o shitain desu ga)
2. Formal: I’d like to reschedule the appointment. – 予約(よ やく)の変更(へんこう)をお願(ねが)いしたいんですが。(yoyaku no henkou o onegai shitain desu ga)
3. I’d like to cancel the appointment. – 予約(よやく)をキャンセルしたいんですけど。(yoyaku o kyanseru shitain desu kedo)
Hours of Operation
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 診察 | しんさつ | shinsatsu | medical examination |
| 午前 | ごぜん | gozen | morning, a.m. |
| 午後 | ごご | gogo | afternoon, p.m. |
1. What time do you stop seeing patients in the morning? – 午前(ごぜん)の診察(しんさつ)は何時(なんじ)までですか？(gozen no shinsatsu wa nanji made desu ka)
2. What time do you start seeing patients in the afternoon? – 午後(ごご)の診察(しんさつ)は何時(なんじ)からですか？(gogo no shinsatsu wa nanji kara desu ka)
3. What are your hours? – 診察(しんさつ)時間(じかん)は何時(なんじ)から何時(なんじ)までですか？(shinsatsujikan wa nanji kara nanji made desu ka)
Inquiring About English-Speaking Staff
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | いらっしゃる | irassharu | to be (exist), to go, to come *Honorific expression |
| 通訳 | つうやく | tsuuyaku | interpretation, interpreter |
1. Is there anyone who can speak English? – 英語(えいご)を話(はな)せる人(ひと)はいますか？(eigo o hanaseru hito wa imasu ka)
2. Is there anyone who can speak English? – 英語(えいご)を話(はな)せる方(かた)はいらっしゃいますか？(eigo o hanaseru kata wa irasshai masu ka)
3. Do you provide an interpreter? – 通訳(つうやく)のサービスはありますか？(tsuuyaku no saabisu wa arimasu ka)
Requests for the Doctor
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 伺い | うかがう | ukagau | 1. to enquire 2. to visit *Humble expression |
1. Is Dr. XX in today? – XX先生(せんせい)は今日(きょう)いらっしゃいますか？(XX sensei wa kyou irasshai masu ka)
2. I have something I’d like to ask the doctor. – 先生(せんせい)にちょっとお伺(うかが)いしたいことがあるんですが。(sensei ni chotto oukagai shitai koto ga arun desu ga)
Entering the Doctor’s Office (Reception)
Talking to the Receptionist
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 初診 | しょしん | shoshin | first (initial) medical examination |
| 診る | みる | miru | to examine (medically) |
1. My name is YY and have an appointment at XX. – XX-時(じ)に予約(よやく)をしているYYです。(XX-ji ni yoyaku o shite iru YY desu)
2. This is my first time seeing the doctor here. – 初診(しょしん)です。(shoshin desu)
3. I don’t have an appointment but can I still see the doctor? – 予約(よやく)をしていないんですが、診(み)ていただけますか？(yoyaku o shie inain desu ga mite itadake masu ka)
Patient ID Card
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 忘れる | わすれる | wasureru | to forget |
| 診察券 | しんさつけん | shinsatsuken | patient I.D. card |
Most doctors in Japan will issue you a patient ID card upon your first visit to their clinic. When you first visit a doctor’s clinic, you will usually have to fill out a form (name, address, allergies, pre-existing medical conditions, etc.). Using this information, they will enter you into their system and issue you a patient ID card. This card is only valid for that specific clinic. For example, if you go to doctor Suzuki’s clinic, the patient ID card you receive from them can only be used at that clinic. Think of it as a “membership card.”
The next time you visit them, all you need to do is give them the patient ID card, and they find all of your personal information. Many clinics also have online check-ins, where you can queue in line or make an appointment from their website or app.
1. I ‘m sorry, but it looks like I lost my patient ID card. – すみません、診察券(しんさつけん)を無(な)くしてしまったようなんですが。(sumimasen shinsatsuken o nakushite shimatta you nan desu ga)
2. I’m sorry, but I left my patient ID card at home. – すみません、診察券(しんさつけん)を忘(わす)れてしまったんですが。(sumimasen shinsatsuken o wasurete shimattan desu ga)
Insurance Matters
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 保険 | ほけん | hoken | insurance |
| 保険証 | ほけんしょう | hokenshou | insurance card |
Every time you visit a doctor in Japan, they will ask you for your insurance card. If you live in Japan, it is required to have some kind of health insurance. The good news is that anyone can enter into the Japanese national health insurance. If you work full time, you may receive other types of health insurance from your company. In any case, you will receive a health insurance card. You’ll need to show this card every time your visit a doctor or pharmacy in Japan.
In the case where you don’t have your card (you applied for national insurance but haven’t received your card in the mail yet), you can pay the full price of your doctor’s visit/medicine. Make sure you keep your receipt!! When you do receive your health insurance card, you can go back to the doctor’s clinic/pharmacy with your receipt and get a partial refund (70%) on your bill. Most insurance in Japan covers 70% of your bill.
1. I don’t have insurance. (i.e. I’m not covered by Japanese insurance system.) – 日本(にほん)の保険(ほけん)に入(はい)っていないんですが。(nihon no hoken ni haitte inain desu ga)
2. I’m sorry but I left my insurance card at home. – すみません、保険証(ほけんしょう)を忘(わす)れてしまったんですが。(sumimasen hokenshou o wasurete shimattan desu ga)
Talking to the Doctor (Describing Your Condition, Symptoms, etc.)
When you see the doctor, they will ask you what your symptoms or ailments are. Usually, the doctor will ask something along the lines of “今日(きょう)はどうしましたか？(kyou wa dou shimashita ka?)” Use the following words and phrases to help describe your symptoms to the doctors.
However, if you’re having trouble communicating using Japanese, be sure to use lots of gestures and expressions. This can help the doctor to understand what your ailment may be. Your doctor might also know a few medical terms in English, so you can also give that a try. The Japanese adjective for painful, or sore (as in, “it hurts”) is “痛い – itai). If you are feeling pain somewhere, you can always point to the area while saying “itai.”
Cold/Flu/Food Poisoning Symptoms
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 熱 | ねつ | netsu | fever |
| 寒気 | さむけ | samuke | chills |
| 薬 | くすり | kusuri | medicine |
| 頭 | あたま | atama | head |
| 頭痛 | ずつう | zutsuu | headache |
| お腹 | おなか | onaka | stomach |
| 下痢 | げり | geri | diarrhea |
| 咳 | せき | seki | cough |
| 便秘 | べんぴ | benpi | constipation |
| 食欲 | しょくよく | shokuyoku | appetite |
| 目眩 - Usually written in hiragana | めまい | memai | dizziness, vertigo |
1. I have a fever. – 熱(ねつ)があるんですが。(netsu ga arun desu ga)
2. I have chills. – 寒気(さむけ)がするんですが。(samuke ga surun desu ga)
3. I have a headache. – 頭(あたま)が痛(いた)いんですが。(atama ga itain desu ga)
4. I have a severe headache. – ひどい頭痛(ずつう)なんですが。(hitdoi zutsuu nan desu ga)
5. I have persistent cough. – 咳(せき)が続(つづ)いているんですが。(seki ga tsuzuite irun desu ga)
6. I have a stomachache. – お腹(なか)が痛(いた)いんですが。(onaka ga itain desu ga)
7. I’ve been having diarrhea. – 下痢(げり)が続(つづ)いているんですが。(geri ga tsuzuite irun desu ga)
8. I have persistent constipation. – 便秘(べんぴ)が続(つづ)いているんですが。(benpi ga tsuzuite irun desu ga)
9. I get dizzy sometimes. – 時々(ときどき)、めまいがするんですが。(tokidoki memai ga surun desu ga)
10. I have no appetite and can’t sleep at night. – 食欲(しょくよく)が無(な)くて、夜(よる)も眠(ねむ)れないんですが。(shokuyoku ga nakute yoru mo nemurenain desu ga)
11. I took (over the counter) medicine, but my fever won’t go down. – 薬(くすり)を飲(の)んだんですが、熱(ねつ)が下(さ)がらないんです。(kusuri o nondan desu ga netsu ga sagaranain desu)
Allergies
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 花粉症 | かふんしょう | kafunshou | hay fever |
| 湿疹 | しっしん | shisshin | rash |
| N/A | アレルギー | arerugii | allergy |
| 急に | きゅうに | kyuu ni | suddenly, unexpectedly |
1. My hey fever is really bad. – 花粉症(かふんしょう)がひどいんですが。(kafunshou ga hidoin desu ga)
2. I started having severe skin rash all of a sudden. – 急(きゅう)にひどい湿疹(しっしん)が出(で)てきたんですが。(kyuuni hidoi shisshin ga dete kitan desu ga)
3. I’m allergic to XX. – XXのアレルギーがあるんですが。(XX no arerugii ga arun desu ga)
Injuries
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 転ぶ | ころぶ | korobu | to fall down |
| 足首 | あしくび | ashikubi | ankle |
| 捻る | ひねる | hineru | to twist |
| 手 | て | te | hand |
| 手首 | てくび | tekubi | wrist |
| やけど - Usually written in hiragana | やけど | yakedo | burn |
| 重い | おもい | omoi | heavy |
| 持ち上げる | もちあげる | mochiageru | to lift up, to raise |
| 腰 | こし | koshi | lower back |
| 血 | ち | chi | blood |
| 縫う | ぬう | nuu | to sew, to stitch |
1. I had a fall and I think I twisted my ankle. – 転(ころ)んで足首(あしくび)を捻(ひね)ったようなんですが。(koron de ashikubi o hinetta you nan desu ga)
2. I had a fall and l landed on my hand. I think I hurt my wrist. – 転(ころ)んだときに手(て)をついて、手首(てくび)を痛(いた)めてしまったようなんですが。(koronda toki ni te o tsuite tekubi o itamete shimatta you nan desu ga)
3. I burned my hand while I was cooking. – 料理(りょうり)をしていて手(て)をやけどしてしまったんですが。(ryouri o shite ite te o yakedo shite shimattan desu ga)
4. I think I hurt my lower back when I tried to pick up a heavy item. – 重(おも)い物(もの)を持(も)ち上(あ)げようとして腰(こし)を痛(いた)めてしまったようなんですが。(omoi mono o mochiage youto shite koshi o itamete shimatta you nan desu ga)
5. It doesn’t stop bleeding. – 血(ち)が止(と)まらないんですが。(chi ga tomaranain desu ga)
6. Do I need to get it stitched? – 縫(ぬ)わないといけませんか？(nuwanaito ikemasen ka)
Describing Conditions, Habits, Etc.
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 妊娠 | にんしん | ninshin | pregnancy |
| 酒 | さけ | sake | alcohol |
| タバコ - Usually written in katakana | タバコ | tabako | cigarette, tobacco |
| 飲む | のむ | nomu | to drink |
| 使う | つかう | tsukau | to use |
1. I think I’m pregnant. – 妊娠(にんしん)したみたいなんですが。(ninshin shita mitai nan desu ga)
2. I don’t drink (alcohol). – お酒(さけ)は飲(の)みません。(osake wa nomi masen)
3. I don’t smoke. – タバコは吸(す)いません。(tabako wa sui masen)
4. I’m taking XX. – XXを飲(の)んでいます。(XX o nonde imasu)
5. I’m using XX. – XXを使(つか)っています。(XX o tsukatte imasu)
Describing Length of Symptoms
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 昨日 | きのう | kinou | yesterday |
| 日 | にち, ひ, ~か | nichi, hi, ka | day |
| 週間 | しゅうかん | shuukan | week |
You can replace any of the numbers (number of days or weeks) to describe how long you were experiencing your symptoms for. Check out our guide to learning Japanese numbers/counters if you need help with numbers in Japanese.
1. Since yesterday – 昨日(きのう)から (kinou kara)
2. Since about 3 days ago – 3(みっ)日(か)くらい前(まえ)から (mikka kurai mae kara)
3. Since about 1 week ago – 1(いっ)週間(しゅうかん)くらい前(まえ)から (isshuukan kurai mae kara)
Thanking the Doctor
1. Thank you very much – どうもありがとうございました。 (doumo arigatou gozaimashita)
2. Thank you. – お世話(せわ)になりました。(osewa ni narimashita)
Questions to Ask the Doctor
Returning to Daily Activities
| Kanji | Hiragana/Katakana | Rōmaji | English Transl |
|---|