Discussing health conditions like arthritis requires specific vocabulary, whether you’re visiting a doctor in Korea or talking with friends. This guide provides essential Korean terms and phrases related to arthritis, covering symptoms, treatment, and relevant cultural context to help you communicate effectively about joint pain and inflammation.
Table Of Content
Core Term: Arthritis
-
Expression: 관절염
Pronunciation: gwan-jeol-lyeom
Meaning: Arthritis (literally “joint inflammation”)
Describing Symptoms
-
Expression: 무릎 관절이 아파요.
Pronunciation: mu-reup gwan-jeol-i a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My knee joint hurts. -
Expression: 손가락 마디가 쑤셔요.
Pronunciation: son-ga-rak ma-di-ga ssu-syeo-yo.
Meaning: My finger joints are aching/throbbing. -
Expression: 아침에 일어나면 관절이 뻣뻣해요.
Pronunciation: a-chim-e il-eo-na-myeon gwan-jeol-i ppeot-ppeot-hae-yo.
Meaning: My joints are stiff when I wake up in the morning. -
Expression: 관절이 부었어요.
Pronunciation: gwan-jeol-i bu-eoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: My joint is swollen. -
Expression: 움직일 때 통증이 심해요.
Pronunciation: um-jik-il ttae tong-jeung-i sim-hae-yo.
Meaning: The pain is severe when I move. -
Expression: 날씨가 궂으면 더 아파요.
Pronunciation: nal-ssi-ga guj-eu-myeon deo a-pa-yo.
Meaning: It hurts more when the weather is bad. -
Expression: 계단 오르내리기가 힘들어요.
Pronunciation: gye-dan o-reu-nae-ri-gi-ga him-deul-eo-yo.
Meaning: It’s difficult to go up and down the stairs. -
Expression: 관절에서 소리가 나요.
Pronunciation: gwan-jeol-e-seo so-ri-ga na-yo.
Meaning: My joint makes a sound (clicking/popping). -
Expression: 염증이 있는 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: yeom-jeung-i iss-neun geot gat-a-yo.
Meaning: I think there’s inflammation. -
Expression: 만지면 아파요.
Pronunciation: man-ji-myeon a-pa-yo.
Meaning: It hurts when touched.
Discussing Treatment and Management
-
Expression: 정형외과에 가야 해요.
Pronunciation: jeong-hyeong-oe-gwa-e ga-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: I need to go to an orthopedic clinic. -
Expression: 의사 선생님과 상담했어요.
Pronunciation: ui-sa seon-saeng-nim-gwa sang-dam-haess-eo-yo.
Meaning: I consulted with the doctor. -
Expression: 엑스레이를 찍었어요.
Pronunciation: ek-seu-re-i-reul jjik-eoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: I had an X-ray taken. -
Expression: 진통제를 처방받았어요.
Pronunciation: jin-tong-je-reul cheo-bang-bad-ass-eo-yo.
Meaning: I was prescribed painkillers. -
Expression: 물리치료를 받고 있어요.
Pronunciation: mul-li-chi-ryo-reul bad-go iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: I am receiving physical therapy. -
Expression: 주사를 맞았어요.
Pronunciation: ju-sa-reul maj-ass-eo-yo.
Meaning: I got an injection. -
Expression: 약을 꾸준히 먹어야 해요.
Pronunciation: yak-eul kku-jun-hi meok-eo-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: I need to take medicine regularly. -
Expression: 수술이 필요할 수도 있대요.
Pronunciation: su-sul-i pil-yo-hal su-do iss-dae-yo.
Meaning: They said surgery might be necessary. -
Expression: 관절에 좋은 운동을 하고 있어요.
Pronunciation: gwan-jeol-e joh-eun un-dong-eul ha-go iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: I am doing exercises that are good for the joints. -
Expression: 냉찜질/온찜질을 해요.
Pronunciation: naeng-jjim-jil / on-jjim-jil-eul hae-yo.
Meaning: I do cold/hot compresses. -
Expression: 증상이 완화되었어요.
Pronunciation: jeung-sang-i wan-hwa-doe-eoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: The symptoms have eased.
Related Vocabulary
-
Expression: 관절
Pronunciation: gwan-jeol
Meaning: Joint -
Expression: 통증
Pronunciation: tong-jeung
Meaning: Pain -
Expression: 염증
Pronunciation: yeom-jeung
Meaning: Inflammation -
Expression: 붓기
Pronunciation: but-gi
Meaning: Swelling -
Expression: 뻣뻣함
Pronunciation: ppeot-ppeot-ham
Meaning: Stiffness -
Expression: 뼈
Pronunciation: ppyeo
Meaning: Bone -
Expression: 근육
Pronunciation: geun-yuk
Meaning: Muscle -
Expression: 의사 (선생님)
Pronunciation: ui-sa (seon-saeng-nim)
Meaning: Doctor (Mr./Ms. Doctor – polite term) -
Expression: 병원
Pronunciation: byeong-won
Meaning: Hospital / Clinic -
Expression: 약
Pronunciation: yak
Meaning: Medicine -
Expression: 치료
Pronunciation: chi-ryo
Meaning: Treatment -
Expression: 만성 질환
Pronunciation: man-seong jil-hwan
Meaning: Chronic illness/disease
Korean Culture Notes
When discussing health issues like arthritis in Korea, it’s helpful to be aware of certain cultural points. Many Koreans readily share information about their health concerns, especially aches and pains, often viewing it as a common topic of conversation, particularly among older adults.
Visiting a doctor (병원에 가다 – byeong-won-e ga-da) for joint pain is common. Orthopedic clinics (정형외과 – jeong-hyeong-oe-gwa) are widely available. Expect doctors to ask detailed questions about symptoms and potentially recommend tests like X-rays or MRIs.
Traditional Korean medicine (한의학 – han-ui-hak) is also a popular option for managing chronic pain like arthritis. Treatments might include acupuncture (침 – chim) or herbal medicine (한약 – han-yak).
Expressing pain can sometimes be indirect. Instead of saying “I am in pain,” people might say something like “몸이 안 좋아요” (mom-i an joh-a-yo – My body isn’t good) or describe the specific limitation, like “걷기가 불편해요” (geot-gi-ga bul-pyeon-hae-yo – Walking is uncomfortable).
Family members often play a significant role in healthcare decisions and support, sometimes accompanying relatives to doctor’s appointments, especially for older individuals.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Minjun (A) is talking to his friend Sujin (B) about his recent knee pain.
-
Expression: A: 요즘 무릎이 계속 아프네. 관절염인가 봐.
Pronunciation: A: yo-jeum mu-reup-i gye-sok a-peu-ne. gwan-jeol-lyeom-in-ga bwa.
Meaning: A: My knee keeps hurting these days. I think it might be arthritis. -
Expression: B: 어머, 정말? 언제부터 그랬어? 증상이 어때?
Pronunciation: B: eo-meo, jeong-mal? eon-je-bu-teo geu-raess-eo? jeung-sang-i eo-ttae?
Meaning: B: Oh my, really? Since when? What are the symptoms like? -
Expression: A: 한 달 정도 됐어. 특히 아침에 뻣뻣하고, 계단 내려갈 때 쑤셔.
Pronunciation: A: han dal jeong-do dwaess-eo. teuk-hi a-chim-e ppeot-ppeot-ha-go, gye-dan nae-ryeo-gal ttae ssu-syeo.
Meaning: A: It’s been about a month. It’s especially stiff in the morning, and it aches when I go down stairs. -
Expression: B: 병원에는 가 봤어? 정형외과 가서 진찰받아 봐.
Pronunciation: B: byeong-won-e-neun ga bwass-eo? jeong-hyeong-oe-gwa ga-seo jin-chal-bad-a bwa.
Meaning: B: Have you been to the hospital? You should go to an orthopedic clinic and get it checked out. -
Expression: A: 응, 예약했어. 엑스레이 찍어봐야 할 것 같아. 통증 때문에 힘들다.
Pronunciation: A: eung, ye-yak-haess-eo. ek-seu-re-i jjik-eo-bwa-ya hal geot gat-a. tong-jeung ttae-mun-e him-deul-da.
Meaning: A: Yes, I made an appointment. I think I’ll need to get an X-ray. It’s tough because of the pain. -
Expression: B: 얼른 치료받고 괜찮아지면 좋겠다. 필요하면 내가 같이 가줄까?
Pronunciation: B: eol-leun chi-ryo-bat-go gwaen-chan-a-ji-myeon joh-gett-da. pil-yo-ha-myeon nae-ga gat-i ga-jul-kka?
Meaning: B: I hope you get treatment soon and feel better. Should I go with you if you need?
Practice Tips
Learning medical vocabulary takes practice! Try describing your own (real or imagined) aches and pains using the phrases above~ You could role-play a visit to the doctor or explain your symptoms to a Korean-speaking friend. Pay attention to how Koreans discuss health issues in dramas or real life. Remember, using the right terms like 관절염 (gwan-jeol-lyeom), 통증 (tong-jeung), and 뻣뻣하다 (ppeot-ppeot-ha-da) will make your communication much clearer. Keep practicing, and you’ll become more comfortable discussing health topics in Korean!
