Understanding medical terminology in Korean is crucial when discussing health concerns, particularly conditions like dementia. This guide focuses on how to say “Vascular Dementia” in Korean, along with related terms and phrases essential for communicating effectively in medical settings or discussing health issues related to cognitive decline caused by vascular problems.
Table Of Content
Core Term
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Expression: 혈관성 치매
Pronunciation: hyeol-gwan-seong chi-mae
Meaning: Vascular Dementia (Literally: vascular-nature dementia)
Related Medical Terms
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Expression: 치매
Pronunciation: chi-mae
Meaning: Dementia -
Expression: 뇌졸중
Pronunciation: noe-jol-jung
Meaning: Stroke -
Expression: 기억력
Pronunciation: gi-eok-ryeok
Meaning: Memory power, Memory -
Expression: 인지 기능
Pronunciation: in-ji gi-neung
Meaning: Cognitive function -
Expression: 고혈압
Pronunciation: go-hyeol-ap
Meaning: High blood pressure (Hypertension) -
Expression: 당뇨병
Pronunciation: dang-nyo-byeong
Meaning: Diabetes -
Expression: 뇌혈관
Pronunciation: noe-hyeol-gwan
Meaning: Cerebral blood vessel -
Expression: 예방
Pronunciation: ye-bang
Meaning: Prevention -
Expression: 치료
Pronunciation: chi-ryo
Meaning: Treatment -
Expression: 증상
Pronunciation: jeung-sang
Meaning: Symptom -
Expression: 진단
Pronunciation: jin-dan
Meaning: Diagnosis -
Expression: 간병
Pronunciation: gan-byeong
Meaning: Caregiving, Nursing
Describing Symptoms
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Expression: 최근에 기억력이 많이 나빠지셨어요.
Pronunciation: choe-geun-e gi-eok-ryeok-i ma-ni na-ppa-ji-syeo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Recently, his/her memory has gotten much worse. -
Expression: 말씀하시는 걸 힘들어 하세요.
Pronunciation: mal-sseum-ha-si-neun geol him-deu-reo ha-se-yo.
Meaning: He/She has difficulty speaking. -
Expression: 길을 자주 잃어버리세요.
Pronunciation: gil-eul ja-ju il-eo-beo-ri-se-yo.
Meaning: He/She often gets lost. -
Expression: 판단력이 예전 같지 않아요.
Pronunciation: pan-dan-ryeok-i ye-jeon gat-ji an-a-yo.
Meaning: His/Her judgment isn’t what it used to be. -
Expression: 성격이 좀 변하신 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: seong-gyeok-i jom byeon-ha-sin geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: It seems like his/her personality has changed a bit. -
Expression: 일상생활을 혼자 하기 어려워하세요.
Pronunciation: il-sang-saeng-hwal-eul hon-ja ha-gi eo-ryeo-wo-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: He/She finds it difficult to manage daily life alone. -
Expression: 집중을 잘 못 하세요.
Pronunciation: jip-jung-eul jal mot ha-se-yo.
Meaning: He/She can’t concentrate well. -
Expression: 계산하는 것을 어려워해요.
Pronunciation: gye-san-ha-neun geo-seul eo-ryeo-wo-hae-yo.
Meaning: He/She has difficulty with calculations. -
Expression: 가끔 어지럽다고 하세요.
Pronunciation: ga-kkeum eo-ji-reop-da-go ha-se-yo.
Meaning: He/She sometimes says they feel dizzy. -
Expression: 두통이 잦아요.
Pronunciation: du-tong-i ja-ja-yo.
Meaning: He/She has frequent headaches. -
Expression: 이전에 뇌졸중을 앓으셨어요.
Pronunciation: i-jeon-e noe-jol-jung-eul al-eu-syeo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: He/She had a stroke before. -
Expression: 걸음걸이가 불안정해졌어요.
Pronunciation: geol-eum-geol-i-ga bul-an-jeong-hae-jyeo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: His/Her gait has become unstable.
Asking Questions at the Hospital
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Expression: 혹시 혈관성 치매일 가능성이 있나요?
Pronunciation: hok-si hyeol-gwan-seong chi-mae-il ga-neung-seong-i it-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there a possibility it could be vascular dementia? -
Expression: 정확한 진단을 위해 어떤 검사를 받아야 하나요?
Pronunciation: jeong-hwak-han jin-dan-eul wi-hae eo-tteon geom-sa-reul ba-da-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: What tests are needed for an accurate diagnosis? -
Expression: 혈관성 치매는 치료가 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: hyeol-gwan-seong chi-mae-neun chi-ryo-ga ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is vascular dementia treatable? -
Expression: 어떻게 예방할 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteo-ke ye-bang-hal su i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: How can it be prevented? -
Expression: 증상이 더 나빠지는 것을 막을 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: jeung-sang-i deo na-ppa-ji-neun geo-seul mag-eul su it-na-yo?
Meaning: Can the worsening of symptoms be stopped? -
Expression: 가족력이 있는데 저도 위험한가요?
Pronunciation: ga-jok-ryeok-i it-neun-de jeo-do wi-heom-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: There’s a family history, am I also at risk? -
Expression: 어떤 약물 치료가 있나요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon yak-mul chi-ryo-ga it-na-yo?
Meaning: What kind of medication treatments are available? -
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: 환자를 어떻게 돌봐야 할까요?
Pronunciation: hwan-ja-reul eo-tteo-ke dol-bwa-ya hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: How should we care for the patient? -
Expression: 정부 지원이나 도움을 받을 수 있는 곳이 있나요?
Pronunciation: jeong-bu ji-won-i-na do-um-eul ba-deul su it-neun go-si it-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there any government support or places to get help? -
Expression: 뇌 MRI 검사가 필요한가요?
Pronunciation: noe MRI geom-sa-ga pil-yo-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is a brain MRI scan necessary? -
Expression: 인지 기능 검사를 받아보고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: in-ji gi-neung geom-sa-reul ba-da-bo-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I would like to have a cognitive function test.
Korean Culture Notes
In Korea, dementia (치매 – chi-mae) carries a significant social weight. Historically, there might have been stigma associated with it, but awareness and understanding have grown considerably. Discussing cognitive decline, especially concerning elderly parents, is becoming more open.
Family plays a central role in caring for elders in Korea. When a family member is diagnosed with dementia, including vascular dementia, the responsibility of care often falls heavily on the family, particularly spouses or children. This cultural expectation influences decisions about treatment and long-term care.
The Korean government has implemented various support systems for dementia patients and their families, including dementia care centers (치매안심센터 – chi-mae-an-sim-sen-teo) nationwide, subsidies for care services, and awareness campaigns. Utilizing these resources is increasingly common.
Prevention (예방 – ye-bang) is highly emphasized in Korean healthcare culture. For conditions like vascular dementia, managing risk factors such as high blood pressure (고혈압 – go-hyeol-ap) and diabetes (당뇨병 – dang-nyo-byeong) through regular check-ups and healthy lifestyle choices is strongly encouraged.
When communicating with doctors, Koreans often value clear, direct information but also appreciate empathy and reassurance. Family members usually accompany elderly patients to appointments and actively participate in discussions about diagnosis and treatment plans.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A daughter (A) is consulting with a neurologist (B) about her father’s recent cognitive changes.
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Expression: A: 의사 선생님, 저희 아버지가 요즘 자꾸 깜빡깜빡 하시고, 말씀도 잘 못 알아들으세요.
Pronunciation: ui-sa seon-saeng-nim, jeo-hui a-beo-ji-ga yo-jeum ja-kku kkam-ppak-kkam-ppak ha-si-go, mal-sseum-do jal mot ar-a-deul-eu-se-yo.
Meaning: Doctor, my father has been very forgetful lately, and he also has trouble understanding what people say. -
Expression: B: 그러시군요. 언제부터 그런 증상이 있으셨나요? 혹시 다른 증상은 없으셨고요? 예를 들어, 걷는 게 불편하시다거나, 두통이 있으시다거나요.
Pronunciation: geu-reo-si-gun-yo. eon-je-bu-teo geu-reon jeung-sang-i i-sseu-syeon-na-yo? hok-si da-reun jeung-sang-eun eop-seu-syeot-go-yo? ye-reul deul-eo, geot-neun ge bu-pyeon-ha-si-da-geo-na, du-tong-i i-sseu-si-da-geo-na-yo.
Meaning: I see. Since when has he had these symptoms? Were there any other symptoms? For example, difficulty walking, or headaches? -
Expression: A: 한 6개월 전부터 심해지신 것 같아요. 예전에 고혈압이랑 뇌졸중으로 쓰러지신 적이 있어요. 요즘 걸음걸이도 좀 불안정해 보이긴 해요.
Pronunciation: han yuk-gae-wol jeon-bu-teo sim-hae-ji-sin geot ga-ta-yo. ye-jeon-e go-hyeol-ap-i-rang noe-jol-jung-eu-ro sseu-reo-ji-sin jeog-i i-sseo-yo. yo-jeum geol-eum-geol-i-do jom bul-an-jeong-hae bo-i-gin hae-yo.
Meaning: I think it started getting worse about 6 months ago. He has a history of high blood pressure and collapsed from a stroke before. His walking does seem a bit unstable these days. -
Expression: B: 뇌졸중 병력이 있으시고, 고혈압도 있으시다면 혈관성 치매의 가능성도 염두에 두어야 합니다. 정확한 진단을 위해 인지 기능 검사와 뇌 MRI 검사를 진행해 보는 것이 좋겠습니다.
Pronunciation: noe-jol-jung byeong-ryeok-i i-sseu-si-go, go-hyeol-ap-do i-sseu-si-da-myeon hyeol-gwan-seong chi-mae-ui ga-neung-seong-do yeom-du-e du-eo-ya ham-ni-da. jeong-hwak-han jin-dan-eul wi-hae in-ji gi-neung geom-sa-wa noe MRI geom-sa-reul jin-haeng-hae bo-neun geo-si jo-ket-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Given the history of stroke and high blood pressure, we should consider the possibility of vascular dementia. For an accurate diagnosis, it would be good to proceed with a cognitive function test and a brain MRI scan. -
Expression: A: 네, 알겠습니다. 검사 예약 부탁드립니다. 만약 혈관성 치매라면 어떻게 해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: ne, al-get-seum-ni-da. geom-sa ye-yak bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da. man-yak hyeol-gwan-seong chi-mae-ra-myeon eo-tteo-ke hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Yes, I understand. Please schedule the tests. If it is vascular dementia, what should we do? -
Expression: B: 검사 결과를 보고 자세히 말씀드리겠습니다. 혈관성 치매는 완치는 어렵지만, 약물 치료와 생활 습관 관리로 증상 악화를 늦추고 삶의 질을 유지할 수 있습니다. 너무 걱정하지 마세요.
Pronunciation: geom-sa gyeol-gwa-reul bo-go ja-se-hi mal-sseum-deu-ri-get-seum-ni-da. hyeol-gwan-seong chi-mae-neun wan-chi-neun eo-ryeop-ji-man, yak-mul chi-ryo-wa saeng-hwal seup-gwan gwan-ri-ro jeung-sang ak-hwa-reul neut-chu-go salm-ui jil-eul yu-ji-hal su it-seum-ni-da. neo-mu geok-jeong-ha-ji ma-se-yo.
Meaning: I will explain in detail after seeing the test results. While a complete cure for vascular dementia is difficult, medication and lifestyle management can slow the worsening of symptoms and maintain quality of life. Please don’t worry too much.
Practice Tips
Familiarizing yourself with these terms is important, especially if you or someone you know needs to discuss cognitive health in Korea~ Try practicing the pronunciation of 혈관성 치매 (hyeol-gwan-seong chi-mae) and related symptoms!
You can also listen for these words in Korean medical dramas or health news segments. Understanding the context in which these terms are used will greatly improve your comprehension. Don’t hesitate to review the vocabulary and practice the conversation examples. 화이팅 (hwaiting – You can do it)!
