Understanding how to discuss chiropractic care is useful if you experience back, neck, or joint pain while in Korea. This guide covers essential Korean vocabulary and phrases related to finding a chiropractor, describing your symptoms, and understanding the treatment process, helping you navigate chiropractic services effectively.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 카이로프랙틱
Pronunciation: ka-i-ro-peu-raek-tik
Meaning: Chiropractic (This is a direct transliteration of the English word.)
Finding a Chiropractor
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Expression: 카이로프랙틱 병원 어디에 있어요?
Pronunciation: ka-i-ro-peu-raek-tik byeong-won eo-di-e i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Where is a chiropractic clinic? -
Expression: 근처에 카이로프랙틱 하는 곳 있나요?
Pronunciation: geun-cheo-e ka-i-ro-peu-raek-tik ha-neun got in-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there a place that does chiropractic nearby? -
Expression: 카이로프랙틱 의사를 찾고 있어요.
Pronunciation: ka-i-ro-peu-raek-tik ui-sa-reul chat-go i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I am looking for a chiropractor. (Note: ‘의사’ usually means medical doctor, but is often used colloquially here). -
Expression: 카이로프랙틱 치료를 받고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: ka-i-ro-peu-raek-tik chi-ryo-reul bat-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: I want to receive chiropractic treatment. -
Expression: 예약하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: ye-yak-ha-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: I want to make an appointment. -
Expression: 오늘 예약 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: o-neul ye-yak ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is it possible to make an appointment today? -
Expression: 가장 빠른 예약 시간이 언제예요?
Pronunciation: ga-jang ppa-reun ye-yak si-gan-i eon-je-ye-yo?
Meaning: When is the earliest available appointment time? -
Expression: 보험 적용되나요?
Pronunciation: bo-heom jeok-yong-doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Is insurance accepted? / Is it covered by insurance? -
Expression: 진료비는 얼마예요?
Pronunciation: jil-lyo-bi-neun eol-ma-ye-yo?
Meaning: How much is the consultation fee? -
Expression: 카이로프랙터 추천해 주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: ka-i-ro-peu-raek-teo chu-cheon-hae ju-sil su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Can you recommend a chiropractor?
Describing Symptoms
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Expression: 허리가 아파요.
Pronunciation: heo-ri-ga a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My back hurts. -
Expression: 목이 뻐근해요.
Pronunciation: mok-i ppeo-geun-hae-yo.
Meaning: My neck is stiff. -
Expression: 어깨가 결려요.
Pronunciation: eo-kkae-ga gyeol-lyeo-yo.
Meaning: My shoulder feels tight/knotted. -
Expression: 등이 아파요.
Pronunciation: deung-i a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My upper back hurts. -
Expression: 골반이 틀어진 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: gol-ban-i teu-reo-jin geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think my pelvis is misaligned. -
Expression: 앉아 있을 때 통증이 심해요.
Pronunciation: an-ja i-sseul ttae tong-jeung-i sim-hae-yo.
Meaning: The pain is severe when I’m sitting. -
Expression: 움직일 때 아파요.
Pronunciation: um-jik-il ttae a-pa-yo.
Meaning: It hurts when I move. -
Expression: 언제부터 아팠어요?
Pronunciation: eon-je-bu-teo a-pa-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Since when has it been hurting? -
Expression: 며칠 전부터 아팠어요.
Pronunciation: myeo-chil jeon-bu-teo a-pa-sseo-yo.
Meaning: It started hurting a few days ago. -
Expression: 갑자기 아프기 시작했어요.
Pronunciation: gap-ja-gi a-peu-gi si-jak-hae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: It suddenly started hurting. -
Expression: 여기를 누르면 아파요.
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-reul nu-reu-myeon a-pa-yo.
Meaning: It hurts when you press here. -
Expression: 통증이 다리까지 내려가요.
Pronunciation: tong-jeung-i da-ri-kka-ji nae-ryeo-ga-yo.
Meaning: The pain goes down to my leg.
During the Appointment
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Expression: 어디가 불편하세요?
Pronunciation: eo-di-ga bul-pyeon-ha-se-yo?
Meaning: Where are you feeling discomfort? (Doctor might ask this) -
Expression: 엑스레이 찍어봐야 할 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: ek-seu-re-i jjik-eo-bwa-ya hal geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think we need to take an X-ray. (Doctor might say this) -
Expression: 척추 교정이 필요해요.
Pronunciation: cheok-chu gyo-jeong-i pil-yo-hae-yo.
Meaning: Spinal adjustment is needed. -
Expression: 이쪽으로 누우세요.
Pronunciation: i-jjok-eu-ro nu-u-se-yo.
Meaning: Please lie down this way. -
Expression: 숨을 깊게 쉬세요.
Pronunciation: sum-eul gip-ge swi-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take a deep breath. -
Expression: 숨을 내쉬세요.
Pronunciation: sum-eul nae-swi-se-yo.
Meaning: Please breathe out. -
Expression: 힘 빼세요.
Pronunciation: him ppae-se-yo.
Meaning: Relax / Release the tension. -
Expression: 아프면 말씀하세요.
Pronunciation: a-peu-myeon mal-sseum-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Tell me if it hurts. -
Expression: 치료는 얼마나 자주 받아야 해요?
Pronunciation: chi-ryo-neun eol-ma-na ja-ju ba-da-ya hae-yo?
Meaning: How often should I receive treatment? -
Expression: 다음 예약은 언제로 할까요?
Pronunciation: da-eum ye-yak-eun eon-je-ro hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: When should we schedule the next appointment? -
Expression: 스트레칭을 꾸준히 하세요.
Pronunciation: seu-teu-re-ching-eul kku-jun-hi ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Please do stretching regularly. -
Expression: 자세를 바르게 하세요.
Pronunciation: ja-se-reul ba-reu-ge ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Please maintain good posture.
Korean Culture Notes
Chiropractic care (카이로프랙틱 – ka-i-ro-peu-raek-tik) is available in Korea, but it’s not as mainstream as in some Western countries. Many Koreans might first visit an orthopedic clinic (정형외과 – jeong-hyeong-oe-gwa) or a traditional Korean medicine clinic (한의원 – han-ui-won) for back or joint pain.
The term 카이로프랙터 (ka-i-ro-peu-raek-teo) refers to a chiropractor. While the profession exists, licensing and regulation might differ from your home country. It’s good practice to research clinics and practitioners beforehand.
Some clinics might integrate chiropractic adjustments with other therapies like physical therapy (물리치료 – mul-li-chi-ryo) or therapeutic massage.
Discussing insurance coverage (보험 적용 – bo-heom jeok-yong) is important, as chiropractic care might not always be covered by standard national health insurance, potentially requiring out-of-pocket payment or coverage through private insurance.
Koreans often use the term 교정 치료 (gyo-jeong chi-ryo), meaning “correction therapy” or “alignment therapy,” which can sometimes refer to chiropractic adjustments or similar manual therapies aimed at correcting posture or spinal alignment.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A patient (A) is visiting a chiropractor (B) for the first time due to back pain.
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Expression: B: 어서 오세요. 어디가 불편해서 오셨어요?
Pronunciation: B: eo-seo o-se-yo. eo-di-ga bul-pyeon-hae-seo o-syeo-sseo-yo?
Meaning: B: Welcome. What brings you here today? / Where are you feeling discomfort? -
Expression: A: 허리가 너무 아파서 왔어요. 며칠 전부터 갑자기 아프기 시작했어요.
Pronunciation: A: heo-ri-ga neo-mu a-pa-seo wa-sseo-yo. myeo-chil jeon-bu-teo gap-ja-gi a-peu-gi si-jak-hae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: A: I came because my back hurts a lot. It suddenly started hurting a few days ago. -
Expression: B: 그러시군요. 특히 언제 더 아프세요? 앉아 있을 때나 움직일 때요?
Pronunciation: B: geu-reo-si-gun-yo. teu-ki eon-je deo a-peu-se-yo? an-ja i-sseul ttae-na um-jik-il ttae-yo?
Meaning: B: I see. When does it hurt more specifically? When sitting or when moving? -
Expression: A: 앉아 있을 때 통증이 더 심해요. 여기를 누르면 아파요.
Pronunciation: A: an-ja i-sseul ttae tong-jeung-i deo sim-hae-yo. yeo-gi-reul nu-reu-myeon a-pa-yo.
Meaning: A: The pain is worse when I’m sitting. It hurts when you press here. -
Expression: B: 네, 알겠습니다. 잠깐 검사를 좀 해볼게요. 이쪽으로 누워보세요. 힘 빼시고요.
Pronunciation: B: ne, al-get-seum-ni-da. jam-kkan geom-sa-reul jom hae-bol-ge-yo. i-jjok-eu-ro nu-wo-bo-se-yo. him ppae-si-go-yo.
Meaning: B: Okay, I understand. Let me do a brief examination. Please lie down this way. And relax. -
Expression: A: 네. 치료하면 괜찮아질까요?
Pronunciation: A: ne. chi-ryo-ha-myeon gwaen-chan-a-jil-kka-yo?
Meaning: A: Okay. Will it get better with treatment? -
Expression: B: 네, 척추 교정 치료를 몇 번 받으시면 훨씬 나아지실 거예요. 자세 교정도 중요합니다.
Pronunciation: B: ne, cheok-chu gyo-jeong chi-ryo-reul myeot beon ba-deu-si-myeon hwol-ssin na-a-ji-sil geo-ye-yo. ja-se gyo-jeong-do jung-yo-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Yes, you should feel much better after a few spinal adjustment sessions. Posture correction is also important.
Practice Tips
Familiarizing yourself with these phrases before needing them can be very helpful! Try practicing the pronunciation of symptoms like 허리가 아파요 (heo-ri-ga a-pa-yo) and 목이 뻐근해요 (mok-i ppeo-geun-hae-yo) aloud~
Role-playing the conversation example with a friend or language partner can build confidence. Imagine you are explaining your pain or asking about appointment times!
Listen to how Koreans pronounce these words if possible, perhaps through online videos related to health or clinics. Pay attention to the intonation and rhythm. Keep practicing, and you’ll be able to communicate your needs clearly if you ever visit a chiropractor in Korea!
