Discussing medical procedures like corneal transplants requires specific terminology. This guide provides the essential Korean vocabulary and phrases needed to understand and talk about corneal transplants, whether you are a patient, accompanying someone, or simply learning medical Korean.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 각막이식
Pronunciation: gak-mak-i-sik
Meaning: Corneal transplant (각막 – gak-mak means cornea, 이식 – i-sik means transplant)
Essential Medical Terms
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Expression: 각막
Pronunciation: gak-mak
Meaning: Cornea -
Expression: 이식
Pronunciation: i-sik
Meaning: Transplant, graft -
Expression: 수술
Pronunciation: su-sul
Meaning: Surgery, operation -
Expression: 안과
Pronunciation: an-gwa
Meaning: Ophthalmology, eye clinic -
Expression: 의사
Pronunciation: ui-sa
Meaning: Doctor -
Expression: 환자
Pronunciation: hwan-ja
Meaning: Patient -
Expression: 기증자
Pronunciation: gi-jeung-ja
Meaning: Donor -
Expression: 수혜자
Pronunciation: su-hye-ja
Meaning: Recipient -
Expression: 검사
Pronunciation: geom-sa
Meaning: Examination, test -
Expression: 회복
Pronunciation: hoe-bok
Meaning: Recovery -
Expression: 부작용
Pronunciation: bu-jak-yong
Meaning: Side effect -
Expression: 시력
Pronunciation: si-ryeok
Meaning: Eyesight, vision -
Expression: 거부 반응
Pronunciation: geo-bu ba-neung
Meaning: Rejection (immune response)
Phrases for Discussing Corneal Transplants
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Expression: 각막이식이 필요해요.
Pronunciation: gak-mak-i-si-gi pi-ryo-hae-yo.
Meaning: I need a corneal transplant. -
Expression: 각막이식 수술을 받아야 합니다.
Pronunciation: gak-mak-i-sik su-su-reul ba-da-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I have to undergo corneal transplant surgery. -
Expression: 언제 각막이식 수술을 할 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: eon-je gak-mak-i-sik su-su-reul hal su it-na-yo?
Meaning: When can I have the corneal transplant surgery? -
Expression: 각막 기증자를 기다리고 있습니다.
Pronunciation: gak-mak gi-jeung-ja-reul gi-da-ri-go it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I am waiting for a cornea donor. -
Expression: 수술 후 회복 기간은 얼마나 걸립니까?
Pronunciation: su-sul hu hoe-bok gi-ga-neun eol-ma-na geol-lim-ni-kka?
Meaning: How long is the recovery period after the surgery? -
Expression: 부작용이 있을 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: bu-jak-yong-i is-seul su it-na-yo?
Meaning: Could there be any side effects? -
Expression: 수술 후에 시력이 개선될까요?
Pronunciation: su-sul hu-e si-ryeo-gi gae-seon-doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: Will my vision improve after the surgery? -
Expression: 정기적으로 안과 검진을 받아야 합니다.
Pronunciation: jeong-gi-jeo-geu-ro an-gwa geom-ji-neul ba-da-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I need to have regular eye check-ups. -
Expression: 안과 의사와 상담해 보세요.
Pronunciation: an-gwa ui-sa-wa sang-dam-hae bo-se-yo.
Meaning: Please consult with an ophthalmologist. -
Expression: 이식 수술은 성공적이었습니다.
Pronunciation: i-sik su-su-reun seong-gong-jeo-gi-eot-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: The transplant surgery was successful. -
Expression: 각막 기증 절차에 대해 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: gak-mak gi-jeung jeol-cha-e dae-hae al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me about the cornea donation procedure. -
Expression: 수술 비용은 대략 얼마인가요?
Pronunciation: su-sul bi-yong-eun dae-ryak eol-ma-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Approximately how much does the surgery cost?
Asking Questions at the Clinic
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Expression: 각막이식 수술의 성공률은 어느 정도인가요?
Pronunciation: gak-mak-i-sik su-su-rui seong-gong-ryu-reun eo-neu jeong-do-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: What is the approximate success rate for corneal transplant surgery? -
Expression: 수술 전에 어떤 준비가 필요한가요?
Pronunciation: su-sul jeo-ne eo-tteon jun-bi-ga pi-ryo-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: What preparations are needed before the surgery? -
Expression: 수술 후 주의해야 할 점은 무엇인가요?
Pronunciation: su-sul hu ju-ui-hae-ya hal jeo-meun mu-eo-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: What should I be careful about after the surgery? -
Expression: 거부 반응의 증상은 어떤 것이 있나요?
Pronunciation: geo-bu ba-neung-ui jeung-sang-eun eo-tteon geo-si it-na-yo?
Meaning: What are the symptoms of rejection? -
Expression: 인공 각막 이식 수술도 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: in-gong gak-mak i-sik su-sul-do ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is artificial cornea transplant surgery also possible? -
Expression: 수술 후 언제부터 정상 생활을 할 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: su-sul hu eon-je-bu-teo jeong-sang saeng-hwa-reul hal su it-na-yo?
Meaning: When can I resume normal activities after the surgery? -
Expression: 이 수술은 건강 보험 적용이 되나요?
Pronunciation: i su-su-reun geon-gang bo-heom jeok-yong-i doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Is this surgery covered by health insurance? -
Expression: 각막이식 외에 다른 치료 방법은 없습니까?
Pronunciation: gak-mak-i-sik oe-e da-reun chi-ryo bang-beo-beun eop-seum-ni-kka?
Meaning: Are there other treatment options besides corneal transplant? -
Expression: 수술 대기 시간은 보통 얼마나 걸리나요?
Pronunciation: su-sul dae-gi si-ga-neun bo-tong eol-ma-na geol-li-na-yo?
Meaning: How long is the usual waiting time for the surgery? -
Expression: 어떤 종류의 각막 이식 수술이 있나요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon jong-nyu-ui gak-mak i-sik su-su-ri it-na-yo?
Meaning: What types of corneal transplant surgeries are there? -
Expression: 수술 후 감염 위험은 없나요?
Pronunciation: su-sul hu gam-yeom wi-heo-meun eom-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there a risk of infection after the surgery? -
Expression: 이 병원에서 각막이식 수술을 많이 하나요?
Pronunciation: i byeong-won-e-seo gak-mak-i-sik su-su-reul ma-ni ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Does this hospital perform many corneal transplant surgeries?
Cultural Tips
Understanding organ donation and medical procedures in Korea involves some cultural context. Organ donation, including cornea donation (각막 기증 – gak-mak gi-jeung), is becoming more accepted, but awareness and participation rates may differ from other countries. Discussing personal health issues often requires a level of formality, especially with medical professionals.
The Korean healthcare system is efficient, with many specialized clinics (전문 병원 – jeon-mun byeong-won) like eye clinics (안과 – an-gwa). Patients usually see specialists directly. It’s common and appreciated to express gratitude (감사합니다 – gam-sa-ham-ni-da) to doctors and nurses for their care.
Waiting lists for transplants exist, similar to other countries. Patience and clear communication with the medical team are important. Family involvement in medical decisions is also quite common in Korean culture.
When discussing costs, be aware that while National Health Insurance (건강 보험 – geon-gang bo-heom) covers many procedures, there might be co-pays or non-covered expenses. It’s advisable to clarify insurance coverage beforehand.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A patient (A) is consulting with an ophthalmologist (B) about worsening vision and the possibility of a corneal transplant.
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Expression: A: 의사 선생님, 요즘 시력이 계속 나빠지는 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: ui-sa seon-saeng-nim, yo-jeum si-ryeo-gi gye-sok na-ppa-ji-neun geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: Doctor, I feel like my eyesight has been getting worse lately. -
Expression: B: 검사 결과를 보니 각막 혼탁이 심하시네요. 안타깝지만 각막이식이 필요할 것 같습니다.
Pronunciation: geom-sa gyeol-gwa-reul bo-ni gak-mak hon-ta-gi sim-ha-si-ne-yo. an-ta-kkap-ji-man gak-mak-i-si-gi pi-ryo-hal geot gat-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Looking at the test results, your corneal opacity is severe. Unfortunately, it seems a corneal transplant will be necessary. -
Expression: A: 각막이식이요? 수술이 많이 어려운가요?
Pronunciation: gak-mak-i-si-gi-yo? su-su-ri ma-ni eo-ryeo-un-ga-yo?
Meaning: A corneal transplant? Is the surgery very difficult? -
Expression: B: 수술 자체는 안전한 편이지만, 기증자를 기다려야 합니다. 대기 시간이 좀 걸릴 수 있어요.
Pronunciation: su-sul ja-che-neun an-jeon-han pyeo-ni-ji-man, gi-jeung-ja-reul gi-da-ryeo-ya ham-ni-da. dae-gi si-ga-ni jom geol-lil su is-seo-yo.
Meaning: The surgery itself is relatively safe, but you need to wait for a donor. The waiting time might take a while. -
Expression: A: 알겠습니다. 수술 전에 어떤 검사를 더 받아야 하나요?
Pronunciation: al-get-seum-ni-da. su-sul jeo-ne eo-tteon geom-sa-reul deo ba-da-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: I understand. What further tests do I need before the surgery? -
Expression: B: 네, 몇 가지 정밀 검사를 더 진행하고 수술 가능 여부를 최종 판단할 겁니다. 자세한 내용은 다시 설명드릴게요.
Pronunciation: ne, myeot ga-ji jeong-mil geom-sa-reul deo jin-haeng-ha-go su-sul ga-neung yeo-bu-reul choe-jong pan-dan-hal geom-ni-da. ja-se-han nae-yong-eun da-si seol-myeong-deu-ril-ge-yo.
Meaning: Yes, we will conduct a few more detailed examinations and then make a final decision on the feasibility of the surgery. I will explain the details again later.
Practice Tips
Mastering medical terms like 각막이식 (gak-mak-i-sik) takes practice! Try saying the core expression and related terms aloud, focusing on the syllable breaks provided~. Role-playing conversations with a doctor or patient can be very helpful. Listen to Korean medical dramas or documentaries (if available) to hear these terms used in context. Don’t be afraid to ask clarifying questions when discussing health matters in Korean. Good luck with your studies! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/Good luck!)
