Understanding how to discuss specific medical conditions like phantom pain is crucial when communicating with healthcare professionals or explaining symptoms in Korean. This guide provides the essential vocabulary and phrases related to phantom pain (환상통), helping you describe sensations, ask relevant questions, and navigate medical conversations more effectively.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 환상통
Pronunciation: hwan-sang-tong
Meaning: Phantom pain (literally “illusion/phantom pain”)
Related Medical Terms
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Expression: 절단
Pronunciation: jeol-dan
Meaning: Amputation -
Expression: 절단 부위
Pronunciation: jeol-dan bu-wi
Meaning: Amputation site / Stump -
Expression: 신경통
Pronunciation: sin-gyeong-tong
Meaning: Neuralgia / Nerve pain -
Expression: 통증
Pronunciation: tong-jeung
Meaning: Pain -
Expression: 만성 통증
Pronunciation: man-seong tong-jeung
Meaning: Chronic pain -
Expression: 의족
Pronunciation: ui-jok
Meaning: Prosthetic leg -
Expression: 의수
Pronunciation: ui-su
Meaning: Prosthetic arm/hand -
Expression: 재활 치료
Pronunciation: jae-hwal chi-ryo
Meaning: Rehabilitation therapy -
Expression: 진통제
Pronunciation: jin-tong-je
Meaning: Painkiller / Analgesic -
Expression: 마취과
Pronunciation: ma-chwi-gwa
Meaning: Anesthesiology department -
Expression: 정형외과
Pronunciation: jeong-hyeong-oe-gwa
Meaning: Orthopedics department -
Expression: 증상
Pronunciation: jeung-sang
Meaning: Symptom
Describing Symptoms
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Expression: 없는 팔(다리)이 아파요.
Pronunciation: eom-neun pal(da-ri)-i a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My missing arm (leg) hurts. -
Expression: 환상통이 느껴져요.
Pronunciation: hwan-sang-tong-i neu-kkyeo-jyeo-yo.
Meaning: I feel phantom pain. -
Expression: 찌르는 듯한 통증이 있어요.
Pronunciation: jji-reu-neun deut-han tong-jeung-i i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I have a stabbing pain. -
Expression: 타는 듯한 느낌이에요.
Pronunciation: ta-neun deut-han neu-kkim-i-e-yo.
Meaning: It feels like it’s burning. -
Expression: 쥐어짜는 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: jwi-eo-jja-neun geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: It feels like it’s being squeezed or cramped. -
Expression: 전기가 오는 것처럼 저려요.
Pronunciation: jeon-gi-ga o-neun geo-cheo-reom jeo-ryeo-yo.
Meaning: It feels numb/tingly, like an electric shock. -
Expression: 통증이 왔다 갔다 해요.
Pronunciation: tong-jeung-i wat-da gat-da hae-yo.
Meaning: The pain comes and goes. -
Expression: 밤에 통증이 더 심해져요.
Pronunciation: bam-e tong-jeung-i deo sim-hae-jyeo-yo.
Meaning: The pain gets worse at night. -
Expression: 스트레스를 받으면 더 아파요.
Pronunciation: seu-teu-re-seu-reul ba-deu-myeon deo a-pa-yo.
Meaning: It hurts more when I’m stressed. -
Expression: 없는 손가락(발가락)이 움직이는 느낌이 들어요.
Pronunciation: eom-neun son-ga-rak(bal-ga-rak)-i um-ji-gi-neun neu-kkim-i deu-reo-yo.
Meaning: I feel like my missing finger(toe) is moving. -
Expression: 가렵기도 해요.
Pronunciation: ga-ryeop-gi-do hae-yo.
Meaning: It also feels itchy sometimes. -
Expression: 통증 때문에 잠을 잘 못 자요.
Pronunciation: tong-jeung ttae-mu-ne jam-eul jal mot ja-yo.
Meaning: I can’t sleep well because of the pain.
Talking to a Doctor
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Expression: 환상통 때문에 왔어요.
Pronunciation: hwan-sang-tong ttae-mu-ne wa-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I came because of phantom pain. -
Expression: 언제부터 아프셨어요?
Pronunciation: eon-je-bu-teo a-peu-syeo-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Since when have you been in pain? (Doctor asking) -
Expression: 수술 직후부터 통증이 있었어요.
Pronunciation: su-sul jik-hu-bu-teo tong-jeung-i i-sseo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I’ve had pain since right after the surgery. -
Expression: 어떤 종류의 통증인가요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon jong-nyu-ui tong-jeung-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: What kind of pain is it? (Doctor asking) -
Expression: 통증을 완화할 방법이 있을까요?
Pronunciation: tong-jeung-eul wan-hwa-hal bang-beo-bi i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Is there any way to relieve the pain? -
Expression: 진통제를 처방해 주세요.
Pronunciation: jin-tong-je-reul cheo-bang-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please prescribe painkillers. -
Expression: 다른 치료법은 없나요?
Pronunciation: da-reun chi-ryo-beo-beun eom-na-yo?
Meaning: Are there any other treatments? -
Expression: 거울 치료가 도움이 될 수 있습니다.
Pronunciation: geo-ul chi-ryo-ga do-u-mi doel su it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Mirror therapy might be helpful. (Doctor suggesting) -
Expression: 재활 치료를 꾸준히 받는 것이 중요합니다.
Pronunciation: jae-hwal chi-ryo-reul kku-jun-hi ban-neun geo-si jung-yo-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: It’s important to consistently receive rehabilitation therapy. (Doctor advising) -
Expression: 이 약은 어떻게 복용해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: i ya-geun eo-tteo-ke bok-yong-hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: How should I take this medicine? -
Expression: 부작용은 없나요?
Pronunciation: bu-ja-gyong-eun eom-na-yo?
Meaning: Are there any side effects? -
Expression: 다음 진료는 언제인가요?
Pronunciation: da-eum jil-lyo-neun eon-je-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: When is the next appointment?
Korean Culture Notes
When discussing pain or medical conditions in Korea, being specific can be helpful, but also be mindful of cultural nuances. While younger generations might be more open, older individuals may sometimes understate their pain or discomfort. Using clear, descriptive words like 찌르는 듯하다 (stabbing) or 타는 듯하다 (burning) helps convey the sensation accurately.
It’s common for doctors to ask detailed questions about the nature, frequency, and intensity of the pain. Be prepared to describe when it started (언제부터), how often it occurs (얼마나 자주), and what makes it better or worse.
Family members often accompany patients to doctor’s appointments, especially older individuals. They may participate in the conversation, ask questions, and help explain the patient’s condition.
While self-treating with over-the-counter painkillers (진통제) is common, discussing chronic or unusual pain like phantom pain (환상통) with a specialist, such as an orthopedist (정형외과 의사) or pain management doctor (통증의학과 의사), is recommended for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A patient (A) visits a doctor (B) to discuss their phantom limb pain after a leg amputation.
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Expression: A: 의사 선생님, 다리 절단 수술 후에 없어진 다리가 계속 아파서 왔어요.
Pronunciation: ui-sa seon-saeng-nim, da-ri jeol-dan su-sul hu-e eop-seo-jin da-ri-ga gye-sok a-pa-seo wa-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Doctor, I came because my missing leg keeps hurting after the amputation surgery. -
Expression: B: 아, 환상통이 있으시군요. 언제부터 그러셨어요? 통증은 어떤가요?
Pronunciation: a, hwan-sang-tong-i i-sseu-si-gun-yo. eon-je-bu-teo geu-reo-syeo-sseo-yo? tong-jeung-eun eo-tteon-ga-yo?
Meaning: Ah, you have phantom pain. Since when has this been happening? What is the pain like? -
Expression: A: 수술하고 얼마 안 돼서부터요. 주로 밤에 심해지고, 타는 듯하고 찌르는 느낌이에요.
Pronunciation: su-sul-ha-go eol-ma an dwae-seo-bu-teo-yo. ju-ro bam-e sim-hae-ji-go, ta-neun deut-ha-go jji-reu-neun neu-kkim-i-e-yo.
Meaning: Since shortly after the surgery. It’s mainly worse at night, and it feels like burning and stabbing. -
Expression: B: 네, 환상통의 전형적인 증상이네요. 통증 완화를 위해 약물 치료와 재활 치료를 병행하는 것이 좋습니다. 거울 치료도 도움이 될 수 있고요.
Pronunciation: ne, hwan-sang-tong-ui jeon-hyeong-jeo-gin jeung-sang-i-ne-yo. tong-jeung wan-hwa-reul wi-hae yak-mul chi-ryo-wa jae-hwal chi-ryo-reul byeong-haeng-ha-neun geo-si jo-sseum-ni-da. geo-ul chi-ryo-do do-u-mi doel su i-goyo.
Meaning: Yes, those are typical symptoms of phantom pain. It’s good to combine medication and rehabilitation therapy to alleviate the pain. Mirror therapy can also be helpful. -
Expression: A: 진통제를 먹어도 계속 아픈데, 다른 방법은 없을까요?
Pronunciation: jin-tong-je-reul meo-geo-do gye-sok a-peun-de, da-reun bang-beo-beun eop-seul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Even when I take painkillers, it still hurts. Are there any other methods? -
Expression: B: 신경통 약물이나 항우울제가 도움이 되기도 합니다. 일단 처방해 드릴 테니 복용해 보시고, 재활 치료도 꾸준히 받아보세요. 다음 주에 다시 뵙겠습니다.
Pronunciation: sin-gyeong-tong yak-mul-i-na hang-u-ul-je-ga do-u-mi doe-gi-do ham-ni-da. il-dan cheo-bang-hae deu-ril te-ni bok-yong-hae bo-si-go, jae-hwal chi-ryo-do kku-jun-hi ba-da-bo-se-yo. da-eum ju-e da-si boep-ge-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Neuropathic pain medication or antidepressants can sometimes help. I’ll prescribe some for now, so please try taking them, and also continue with rehabilitation therapy consistently. I’ll see you again next week.
Practice Tips
Familiarizing yourself with these terms is the first step! Try describing different types of pain using the expressions learned, even if you’re just practicing alone~ Imagine explaining your (or hypothetical) phantom pain symptoms to a doctor. Role-playing the conversation example with a friend or language partner can be very effective!
Listen to Korean medical dramas or interviews (if available) where pain is discussed to get used to the natural flow and pronunciation. Don’t be afraid to use these terms if you need to communicate about phantom pain in Korea. Clear communication is key in medical situations! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Good luck!)
