Dealing with joint pain like tennis elbow requires clear communication, especially when seeking medical help abroad. This guide provides essential Korean vocabulary and phrases related to tennis elbow, helping you describe your symptoms and understand medical advice in Korea.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 테니스 엘보
Pronunciation: te-ni-seu el-bo
Meaning: Tennis Elbow (This is the direct loanword commonly used in Korean medical contexts)
Related Medical Terms
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Expression: 팔꿈치
Pronunciation: pal-kkum-chi
Meaning: Elbow -
Expression: 통증
Pronunciation: tong-jjeung
Meaning: Pain -
Expression: 염증
Pronunciation: yeom-jjeung
Meaning: Inflammation -
Expression: 의사
Pronunciation: ui-sa
Meaning: Doctor -
Expression: 병원
Pronunciation: byeong-won
Meaning: Hospital / Clinic -
Expression: 정형외과
Pronunciation: jeong-hyeong-oe-gwa
Meaning: Orthopedics department -
Expression: 진단
Pronunciation: jin-dan
Meaning: Diagnosis -
Expression: 치료
Pronunciation: chi-ryo
Meaning: Treatment -
Expression: 물리치료
Pronunciation: mul-li-chi-ryo
Meaning: Physical therapy -
Expression: 주사
Pronunciation: ju-sa
Meaning: Injection / Shot -
Expression: 약
Pronunciation: yak
Meaning: Medicine -
Expression: 보호대
Pronunciation: bo-ho-dae
Meaning: Brace / Guard
Describing Symptoms
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Expression: 팔꿈치가 아파요.
Pronunciation: pal-kkum-chi-ga a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My elbow hurts. -
Expression: 오른쪽/왼쪽 팔꿈치가 아파요.
Pronunciation: o-reun-jjok/oen-jjok pal-kkum-chi-ga a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My right/left elbow hurts. -
Expression: 팔꿈치 바깥쪽이 아파요.
Pronunciation: pal-kkum-chi ba-kkat-jjok-i a-pa-yo.
Meaning: The outside of my elbow hurts. -
Expression: 물건을 들 때 아파요.
Pronunciation: mul-geon-eul deul ttae a-pa-yo.
Meaning: It hurts when I lift things. -
Expression: 팔을 뻗을 때 통증이 있어요.
Pronunciation: par-eul ppeot-eul ttae tong-jjeung-i i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I feel pain when I extend my arm. -
Expression: 손목을 돌릴 때 아파요.
Pronunciation: son-mok-eul dol-lil ttae a-pa-yo.
Meaning: It hurts when I twist my wrist. -
Expression: 팔꿈치가 부었어요.
Pronunciation: pal-kkum-chi-ga bu-eo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: My elbow is swollen. -
Expression: 누르면 아파요.
Pronunciation: nu-reu-myeon a-pa-yo.
Meaning: It hurts when I press it. -
Expression: 언제부터 아팠어요?
Pronunciation: eon-je-bu-teo a-pa-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Since when has it been hurting? (Question you might be asked) -
Expression: 며칠 전부터 아팠어요.
Pronunciation: myeo-chil jeon-bu-teo a-pa-sseo-yo.
Meaning: It started hurting a few days ago. -
Expression: 점점 더 아파요.
Pronunciation: jeom-jeom deo a-pa-yo.
Meaning: It’s getting progressively more painful. -
Expression: 힘을 주기가 어려워요.
Pronunciation: him-eul ju-gi-ga eo-ryeo-wo-yo.
Meaning: It’s difficult to apply strength / grip.
Asking Questions at the Clinic
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Expression: 진단이 뭔가요?
Pronunciation: jin-dan-i mwon-ga-yo?
Meaning: What is the diagnosis? -
Expression: 테니스 엘보인가요?
Pronunciation: te-ni-seu el-bo-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is it tennis elbow? -
Expression: 어떤 치료가 필요한가요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon chi-ryo-ga pil-yo-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: What kind of treatment is needed? -
Expression: 약을 처방해 주실 건가요?
Pronunciation: yag-eul cheo-bang-hae ju-sil geon-ga-yo?
Meaning: Will you prescribe medicine? -
Expression: 물리치료를 받아야 하나요?
Pronunciation: mul-li-chi-ryo-reul ba-da-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Do I need to receive physical therapy? -
Expression: 주사를 맞아야 하나요?
Pronunciation: ju-sa-reul ma-ja-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Do I need to get an injection? -
Expression: 얼마나 쉬어야 하나요?
Pronunciation: eol-ma-na swi-eo-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: How long should I rest? -
Expression: 팔꿈치 보호대가 필요한가요?
Pronunciation: pal-kkum-chi bo-ho-dae-ga pil-yo-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Do I need an elbow brace? -
Expression: 회복하는 데 얼마나 걸릴까요?
Pronunciation: hoe-bok-ha-neun de eol-ma-na geol-lil-kka-yo?
Meaning: How long will it take to recover? -
Expression: 주의해야 할 점이 있나요?
Pronunciation: ju-ui-hae-ya hal jeom-i it-na-yo?
Meaning: Are there any precautions I should take? -
Expression: 다음에 언제 다시 와야 하나요?
Pronunciation: da-eum-e eon-je da-si wa-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: When should I come back next?
Korean Culture Notes
When visiting a doctor (의사 – ui-sa) or clinic (병원 – byeong-won) in Korea, especially an orthopedic clinic (정형외과 – jeong-hyeong-oe-gwa), being specific about your pain (통증 – tong-jjeung) is helpful. Pointing directly to the painful area (e.g., 팔꿈치 바깥쪽 – pal-kkum-chi ba-kkat-jjok, outside of the elbow) and describing when it hurts (e.g., 물건을 들 때 – mul-geon-eul deul ttae, when lifting things) aids diagnosis.
Korean medical professionals often use the loanword 테니스 엘보 (te-ni-seu el-bo) directly. Don’t be surprised if they use this term instead of a purely Korean description.
Treatment approaches may include physical therapy (물리치료 – mul-li-chi-ryo), injections (주사 – ju-sa), medication (약 – yak), and recommending rest or a brace (보호대 – bo-ho-dae). It’s common to receive a combination of treatments.
Follow-up appointments are standard practice. Ensure you understand when you need to return by asking 다음에 언제 다시 와야 하나요? (da-eum-e eon-je da-si wa-ya ha-na-yo?).
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A patient (A) visits an orthopedic doctor (B) complaining of elbow pain.
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Expression: B: 어디가 불편해서 오셨어요?
Pronunciation: eo-di-ga bul-pyeon-hae-seo o-syeo-sseo-yo?
Meaning: What brings you here today? / Where are you feeling uncomfortable? -
Expression: A: 오른쪽 팔꿈치 바깥쪽이 아파요. 한 일주일 전부터요.
Pronunciation: o-reun-jjok pal-kkum-chi ba-kkat-jjok-i a-pa-yo. han il-ju-il jeon-bu-teo-yo.
Meaning: The outside of my right elbow hurts. It started about a week ago. -
Expression: B: 언제 특히 더 아프신가요?
Pronunciation: eon-je teuk-hi deo a-peu-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: When does it hurt more specifically? -
Expression: A: 무거운 물건을 들거나, 문고리를 돌릴 때 통증이 심해요.
Pronunciation: mu-geo-un mul-geon-eul deul-geo-na, mun-go-ri-reul dol-lil ttae tong-jjeung-i sim-hae-yo.
Meaning: The pain is severe when I lift heavy things or turn a doorknob. -
Expression: B: 제가 좀 눌러보겠습니다. 여기 아프신가요?
Pronunciation: je-ga jom nul-leo-bo-get-sseum-ni-da. yeo-gi a-peu-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Let me press here a bit. Does it hurt here? -
Expression: A: 네, 거기 누르니까 아파요.
Pronunciation: ne, geo-gi nu-reu-ni-kka a-pa-yo.
Meaning: Yes, it hurts when you press there. -
Expression: B: 증상을 보니 테니스 엘보 같습니다. 물리치료와 약물치료를 병행하는 것이 좋겠습니다.
Pronunciation: jeung-sang-eul bo-ni te-ni-seu el-bo gat-seum-ni-da. mul-li-chi-ryo-wa yak-mul-chi-ryo-reul byeong-haeng-ha-neun geo-si jo-ket-sseum-ni-da.
Meaning: Based on the symptoms, it seems like tennis elbow. It would be good to combine physical therapy and medication. -
Expression: A: 알겠습니다. 얼마나 치료받아야 하나요?
Pronunciation: al-get-sseum-ni-da. eol-ma-na chi-ryo-ba-da-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: I understand. How long will the treatment take?
Practice Tips
Familiarizing yourself with these terms before needing them is always best! Try practicing describing elbow pain using the phrases provided~ Role-playing a visit to the doctor can be very helpful. Remember to pronounce each syllable clearly, like 팔-꿈-치 (pal-kkum-chi) and 테-니-스 엘-보 (te-ni-seu el-bo). Good luck, and I hope you don’t actually need these phrases often!
