Feeling Sick in Korea? Master Hospital Visits from A to Z!

Hello! It’s your favorite Korean booster, [Daily Hangul], here to upgrade your real-life Korean skills!

Feeling under the weather in a foreign country can be stressful, right? But don’t worry! Today, we’re going to learn how to confidently handle one of the most essential situations: visiting a hospital in Korea. Especially now, as the seasons are changing (what Koreans call 환절기 – hwanjeolgi), it’s the perfect time to get a cold. Knowing how to make a doctor’s appointment and explain your symptoms is a real-life superpower. Let’s get started!

Key Expressions You Need to Know

Here are three essential phrases that will make your hospital visit a breeze.

1. 진료 예약을 하고 싶은데요. (Jillyo yeyageul hago sipeundeyo.)

• English Meaning: I’d like to make a doctor’s appointment.
• Detailed Explanation: This is the perfect, polite phrase to use when you call a hospital or clinic.
  • 진료 (jillyo) means ‘medical treatment’ or ‘consultation’.
  • 예약 (yeyak) means ‘reservation’ or ‘appointment’.
  • The ending ~고 싶은데요 (~go sipeundeyo) is a softer, more polite way of saying “I want to…” (~고 싶어요). It’s less direct and sounds more natural in service situations.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Notice the pronunciation of 예약을 [예야글, yeyageul]. The final consonant of a syllable, in this case, ㄱ (k/g), moves over to the next syllable if it starts with a vowel (like 을). This sound-linking rule is called 연음 (yeon-eum), and it makes your Korean sound incredibly smooth!

2. 목이 칼칼하고 몸살 기운이 있어요. (Mogi kalkalhago momsal giuni isseoyo.)

• English Meaning: I have a scratchy throat and body aches.
• Detailed Explanation: This expression will make you sound like a native! Instead of just “my throat hurts” (목이 아파요), 칼칼하다 (kalkalhada) is a mimetic word that perfectly describes that dry, scratchy feeling. 몸살 기운 (momsal giun) is a fantastic set phrase for that general flu-like feeling of body aches, chills, and fatigue.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • For 기운이 [기우니, giuni], we see the 연음 (yeon-eum) rule again! The ㄴ (n) sound from 운 slides over to combine with 이, making the sound [니, ni] instead of [운-이, un-i]. It’s all about connecting the sounds for a natural flow.

3. 증상이 어떠세요? (Jeungsangi eotteoseyo?)

• English Meaning: What are your symptoms?
• Detailed Explanation: This is the question you will almost certainly hear from the receptionist or the doctor. Being able to recognize it is half the battle!
  • 증상 (jeungsang) means ‘symptom’.
  • 어떠세요? (eotteoseyo?) is the honorific, polite way of asking “How is it?” or “What is it like?”.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • In 증상이 [증상니, jeungsangi], that final ㅇ (ng) consonant is a nasal sound made in the back of your throat, similar to the “-ng” in the English word “singing”. Don’t pronounce it like “jeung-sang-i”. Instead, let the ㅇ sound link smoothly to the 이, creating a single fluid phrase.

Example Dialogue in Action!

Let’s see how these expressions work in a real phone call to a clinic.

• A (You): 여보세요, 거기 서울내과 맞나요? 진료 예약을 하고 싶은데요.
  • (Hello, is this Seoul Internal Medicine? I’d like to make an appointment.)
• B (Receptionist): 네, 맞습니다. 오늘 오후에 가능하세요. 증상이 어떠세요?
  • (Yes, it is. We have availability this afternoon. What are your symptoms?)
• A (You): 어제부터 목이 칼칼하고 몸살 기운이 있어요. 열도 조금 있고요.
  • (Since yesterday, I’ve had a scratchy throat and body aches. I also have a slight fever.)
• B (Receptionist): 알겠습니다. 2시까지 병원으로 와주세요.
  • (I understand. Please come to the clinic by 2 PM.)

🏥 Korea Culture Deep Dive: The “Ppalli-Ppalli” Healthcare!

One thing you’ll notice is the incredible efficiency of the Korean healthcare system. This is tied to Korea’s famous “빨리빨리” (ppalli-ppalli) or “hurry, hurry” culture.

• Tip 1: Go to a local clinic (의원, uiwon) first! For common illnesses like a cold or stomachache, Koreans visit smaller, specialized local clinics like an internal medicine clinic (내과, naegwa) or an ENT (이비인후과, ibiinhugwa). You can often walk in without an appointment and be seen within 30 minutes. Large university hospitals (대학병원, daehakbyeongwon) are for major illnesses or emergencies.

• Tip 2: The famous IV Drip! You’ve probably seen it in K-dramas! A character is overworked or has a bad cold, and they go to a clinic to get an IV drip (링거, ringgeo). This is very common in Korea as a way to quickly replenish fluids and vitamins to recover faster. It’s a fascinating part of the wellness culture here.

Let’s Review and Practice!

Great job today! We learned how to book a doctor’s appointment and describe common symptoms like a pro. Now you’re ready for anything!

Time for a quick quiz!

1. Fill in the blank: You want to tell the doctor, “I have a headache and a runny nose.”
   

   머리가 ( ) 콧물이 나요. (Hint: a word that means “and”)

2. Make a sentence: You need to call “연세 이비인후과” (Yonsei ENT Clinic) to make an appointment. What would you say on the phone?

Don’t be shy! Try to answer the questions or create your own sentence in the comments below using today’s expressions! We’d love to see what you’ve learned. See you next time