Understanding how to discuss specific health conditions in Korean is crucial, especially when dealing with symptoms that might be linked to stress or psychological factors. This guide focuses on the term for psychogenic abdominal pain, 심인성 복통 (sim-in-seong bok-tong), and related expressions you might need when discussing these symptoms with healthcare professionals or others in Korea.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 심인성 복통
Pronunciation: sim-in-seong bok-tong
Meaning: Psychogenic abdominal pain (Abdominal pain originating from psychological factors)
Related Medical Terms
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Expression: 복통
Pronunciation: bok-tong
Meaning: Abdominal pain, stomachache -
Expression: 스트레스
Pronunciation: seu-teu-re-seu
Meaning: Stress -
Expression: 신경성
Pronunciation: sin-gyeong-seong
Meaning: Nervous, related to nerves (often used similarly to ‘psychosomatic’) -
Expression: 정신과
Pronunciation: jeong-sin-gwa
Meaning: Psychiatry department -
Expression: 소화불량
Pronunciation: so-hwa-bul-lyang
Meaning: Indigestion -
Expression: 과민성 대장 증후군
Pronunciation: gwa-min-seong dae-jang jeung-hu-gun
Meaning: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) -
Expression: 심리적 요인
Pronunciation: sim-ni-jeok yo-in
Meaning: Psychological factors -
Expression: 불안
Pronunciation: bur-an
Meaning: Anxiety -
Expression: 우울증
Pronunciation: u-ul-jjeung
Meaning: Depression -
Expression: 내과
Pronunciation: nae-gwa
Meaning: Internal medicine department -
Expression: 검사 결과
Pronunciation: geom-sa gyeol-gwa
Meaning: Test results -
Expression: 특별한 이상 없음
Pronunciation: teuk-byeol-han i-sang eop-seum
Meaning: No particular abnormalities found
Describing Symptoms
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Expression: 배가 계속 아파요.
Pronunciation: bae-ga gye-sok a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My stomach keeps hurting. -
Expression: 스트레스를 받으면 배가 더 아파요.
Pronunciation: seu-teu-re-seu-reul ba-deu-myeon bae-ga deo a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My stomach hurts more when I’m stressed. -
Expression: 콕콕 쑤시는 통증이에요.
Pronunciation: kok-kok ssu-si-neun tong-jjeung-i-e-yo.
Meaning: It’s a sharp, stabbing pain. -
Expression: 더부룩하고 소화가 안 돼요.
Pronunciation: deo-bu-ruk-ha-go so-hwa-ga an dwae-yo.
Meaning: I feel bloated and have indigestion. -
Expression: 긴장하면 배가 아파요.
Pronunciation: gin-jang-ha-myeon bae-ga a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My stomach hurts when I get nervous. -
Expression: 특별한 이유 없이 배가 아파요.
Pronunciation: teuk-byeol-han i-yu eop-si bae-ga a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My stomach hurts for no particular reason. -
Expression: 통증이 왔다 갔다 해요.
Pronunciation: tong-jjeung-i wat-da gat-da hae-yo.
Meaning: The pain comes and goes. -
Expression: 속이 메스꺼워요.
Pronunciation: sok-i me-seu-kkeo-wo-yo.
Meaning: I feel nauseous. -
Expression: 설사를 자주 해요.
Pronunciation: seol-sa-reul ja-ju hae-yo.
Meaning: I have diarrhea often. -
Expression: 변비가 있어요.
Pronunciation: byeon-bi-ga i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I have constipation. -
Expression: 식욕이 없어요.
Pronunciation: sik-yok-i eop-seo-yo.
Meaning: I have no appetite. -
Expression: 밤에 통증 때문에 잠을 잘 못 자요.
Pronunciation: bam-e tong-jjeung ttae-mun-e jam-eul jal mot ja-yo.
Meaning: I can’t sleep well at night because of the pain.
Talking to a Doctor
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Expression: 의사 선생님, 배가 너무 아파서 왔어요.
Pronunciation: ui-sa seon-saeng-nim, bae-ga neo-mu a-pa-seo wa-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Doctor, I came because my stomach hurts so much. -
Expression: 검사를 받았는데 이상이 없다고 해요.
Pronunciation: geom-sa-reul ba-dat-neun-de i-sang-i eop-da-go hae-yo.
Meaning: I had tests done, but they said there’s nothing wrong. -
Expression: 혹시 스트레스 때문일까요?
Pronunciation: hok-si seu-teu-re-seu ttae-mun-il-kka-yo?
Meaning: Could it perhaps be due to stress? -
Expression: 심인성 복통일 가능성이 있나요?
Pronunciation: sim-in-seong bok-tong-il ga-neung-seong-i in-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there a possibility it’s psychogenic abdominal pain? -
Expression: 어떤 치료를 받아야 할까요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon chi-ryo-reul ba-da-ya hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: What kind of treatment should I receive? -
Expression: 정신과 상담도 필요할까요?
Pronunciation: jeong-sin-gwa sang-dam-do pil-yo-hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Would psychiatric counseling also be necessary? -
Expression: 이 증상이 얼마나 오래되었나요?
Pronunciation: i jeung-sang-i eol-ma-na o-rae-doe-eon-na-yo?
Meaning: How long have you had these symptoms? (Doctor might ask this) -
Expression: 최근에 스트레스받는 일이 있었나요?
Pronunciation: choe-geun-e seu-teu-re-seu-bat-neun ir-i i-sseon-na-yo?
Meaning: Have you had any stressful events recently? (Doctor might ask this) -
Expression: 약을 처방해 주세요.
Pronunciation: yak-eul cheo-bang-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please prescribe medication. -
Expression: 생활 습관 개선이 도움이 될까요?
Pronunciation: saeng-hwal seup-gwan gae-seon-i do-um-i doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: Would improving lifestyle habits help? -
Expression: 다른 병원에 가봐야 할까요?
Pronunciation: da-reun byeong-won-e ga-bwa-ya hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Should I try going to a different hospital? -
Expression: 진단서를 받을 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: jin-dan-seo-reul ba-deul su i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Could I get a doctor’s note/medical certificate?
Cultural Tips
Discussing symptoms potentially linked to mental or emotional stress requires some cultural sensitivity in Korea. While awareness is growing, there can still be some stigma associated with mental health issues.
It’s common for physical symptoms like stomachaches or headaches to be the primary complaint, even if stress is a major factor. People might feel more comfortable discussing physical pain (복통, bok-tong) than directly mentioning stress (스트레스, seu-teu-re-seu) or anxiety (불안, bur-an).
Doctors in Korea are generally thorough. If initial tests for physical causes (내과 검사, nae-gwa geom-sa) show no abnormalities, they might gently suggest psychological factors (심리적 요인, sim-ni-jeok yo-in) or recommend consulting a psychiatrist (정신과, jeong-sin-gwa).
Using terms like 신경성 (sin-gyeong-seong), meaning ‘nervous’ or ‘related to nerves’, can sometimes be a softer way to imply a link between symptoms and stress/nerves without directly using psychiatric terms.
Be prepared to describe your symptoms in detail, including when they occur and what seems to trigger them. This helps the doctor understand the full picture, especially if psychogenic factors are suspected.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A patient (A) is visiting a doctor (B) after experiencing persistent abdominal pain with no clear physical cause found in previous tests.
Roles: A: Patient, B: Doctor
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Expression: A: 의사 선생님, 계속 배가 아파서 다시 왔어요. 전에 검사했을 때는 이상이 없다고 하셨는데…
Pronunciation: ui-sa seon-saeng-nim, gye-sok bae-ga a-pa-seo da-si wa-sseo-yo. jeon-e geom-sa-haet-sseul ttae-neun i-sang-i eop-da-go ha-syeot-neun-de…
Meaning: Doctor, I came again because my stomach keeps hurting. You said there was nothing wrong when I had tests before… -
Expression: B: 네, 기억합니다. 통증이 어떻게 다른가요? 혹시 최근에 스트레스받는 일이 많으셨어요?
Pronunciation: ne, gi-eok-ham-ni-da. tong-jjeung-i eo-tteo-ke da-reun-ga-yo? hok-si choe-geun-e seu-teu-re-seu-bat-neun ir-i ma-neu-syeo-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Yes, I remember. How is the pain different? Have you perhaps had a lot of stressful events recently? -
Expression: A: 네, 사실 회사 일 때문에 스트레스가 좀 심해요. 긴장하거나 스트레스받으면 배가 더 아픈 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: ne, sa-sil hoe-sa il ttae-mun-e seu-teu-re-seu-ga jom sim-hae-yo. gin-jang-ha-geo-na seu-teu-re-seu-bat-eu-myeon bae-ga deo a-peun geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: Yes, actually, I have quite a bit of stress because of work. It seems like my stomach hurts more when I’m nervous or stressed. -
Expression: B: 그렇군요. 검사상 특별한 이상이 없는 경우, 스트레스나 심리적 요인으로 인한 심인성 복통일 가능성도 고려해 봐야 합니다.
Pronunciation: geu-reo-kun-yo. geom-sa-sang teuk-byeol-han i-sang-i eom-neun gyeong-u, seu-teu-re-seu-na sim-ni-jeok yo-in-eu-ro in-han sim-in-seong bok-tong-il ga-neung-seong-do go-ryeo-hae bwa-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I see. In cases where tests show no particular abnormalities, we also need to consider the possibility of psychogenic abdominal pain caused by stress or psychological factors. -
Expression: A: 심인성 복통이요? 그럼 어떻게 해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: sim-in-seong bok-tong-i-yo? geu-reom eo-tteo-ke hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Psychogenic abdominal pain? Then what should I do? -
Expression: B: 우선 스트레스 관리가 중요합니다. 필요하다면 증상 완화를 위한 약을 처방해 드릴 수 있고, 정신과 상담을 받아보는 것도 도움이 될 수 있습니다.
Pronunciation: u-seon seu-teu-re-seu gwan-ri-ga jung-yo-ham-ni-da. pil-yo-ha-da-myeon jeung-sang wan-hwa-reul wi-han yak-eul cheo-bang-hae deu-ril su it-go, jeong-sin-gwa sang-dam-eul ba-da-bo-neun geot-do do-um-i doel su is-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: First, stress management is important. If necessary, I can prescribe medication to alleviate the symptoms, and receiving psychiatric counseling could also be helpful.
Practice Tips
Familiarizing yourself with these terms is the first step! Try saying 심인성 복통 (sim-in-seong bok-tong) and related symptom descriptions aloud~ Practice the pronunciation carefully, focusing on each syllable.
Imagine explaining your symptoms to a doctor using the phrases provided. Role-playing can be very effective! You could also try writing down a short description of hypothetical symptoms using the vocabulary.
Listen to Korean medical dramas or search for relevant clips online (use terms like 복통, 스트레스, 병원 – byeong-won, hospital) to hear how these words are used in context. Pay attention to the nuances and the flow of conversation!
Remember, being able to communicate health concerns clearly is very important. Keep practicing these phrases so you feel more confident if you ever need them! 파이팅! (pa-i-ting! – Fighting!/Good luck!)
