Dealing with sickness while abroad requires specific vocabulary, especially for conditions like tonsillitis. This guide provides essential Korean expressions to help you describe symptoms, visit a doctor, and discuss treatment for 편도염 (tonsillitis), ensuring you can communicate your health needs effectively in Korea.
Table Of Content
Core Term: Tonsillitis
- Expression: 편도염
Pronunciation: pyeon-do-yeom
Meaning: Tonsillitis (편도 – tonsil, 염 – inflammation)
Describing Symptoms
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Expression: 목이 아파요.
Pronunciation: mok-i a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My throat hurts. -
Expression: 침 삼킬 때 아파요.
Pronunciation: chim sam-kil ttae a-pa-yo.
Meaning: It hurts when I swallow saliva. -
Expression: 열이 나요.
Pronunciation: yeol-i na-yo.
Meaning: I have a fever. -
Expression: 오한이 있어요.
Pronunciation: o-han-i iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: I have chills. -
Expression: 몸살 기운이 있어요.
Pronunciation: mom-sal gi-un-i iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: I have body aches. -
Expression: 목소리가 쉬었어요.
Pronunciation: mok-so-ri-ga swi-eoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: My voice is hoarse. -
Expression: 기침을 해요.
Pronunciation: gi-chim-eul hae-yo.
Meaning: I have a cough. -
Expression: 콧물이 나요.
Pronunciation: kon-mul-i na-yo.
Meaning: I have a runny nose. -
Expression: 목이 부었어요.
Pronunciation: mok-i bu-eoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: My throat is swollen. -
Expression: 두통이 있어요.
Pronunciation: du-tong-i iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: I have a headache. -
Expression: 기운이 없어요.
Pronunciation: gi-un-i eops-eo-yo.
Meaning: I have no energy / I feel weak. -
Expression: 귀도 아픈 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: gwi-do a-peun geot gat-a-yo.
Meaning: I think my ear hurts too.
Visiting the Doctor
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Expression: 이비인후과에 가야 해요.
Pronunciation: i-bi-in-hu-gwa-e ga-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: I need to go to the ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) clinic. -
Expression: 진료 예약을 하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: jil-lyo ye-yak-eul ha-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to make a doctor’s appointment. -
Expression: 의사 선생님께 증상을 설명했어요.
Pronunciation: ui-sa seon-saeng-nim-kke jeung-sang-eul seol-myeong-haess-eo-yo.
Meaning: I explained my symptoms to the doctor. -
Expression: 언제부터 아프셨어요?
Pronunciation: eon-je-bu-teo a-peu-syeoss-eo-yo?
Meaning: Since when have you been feeling sick? -
Expression: 어제부터 목이 아팠어요.
Pronunciation: eo-je-bu-teo mok-i a-pass-eo-yo.
Meaning: My throat started hurting yesterday. -
Expression: 편도염인 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: pyeon-do-yeom-in geot gat-a-yo.
Meaning: I think it’s tonsillitis. -
Expression: 검사를 받아야 하나요?
Pronunciation: geom-sa-reul bad-a-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Do I need to get tested? -
Expression: 약 처방해 주세요.
Pronunciation: yak cheo-bang-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please prescribe medicine. -
Expression: 진료비는 얼마예요?
Pronunciation: jil-lyo-bi-neun eol-ma-ye-yo?
Meaning: How much is the consultation fee? -
Expression: 진단서가 필요해요.
Pronunciation: jin-dan-seo-ga pil-yo-hae-yo.
Meaning: I need a doctor’s note. -
Expression: 주사 맞아야 하나요?
Pronunciation: ju-sa maj-a-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Do I need an injection? -
Expression: 약국은 어디에 있어요?
Pronunciation: yak-guk-eun eo-di-e iss-eo-yo?
Meaning: Where is the pharmacy?
Treatment and Recovery
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Expression: 약을 제때 챙겨 드세요.
Pronunciation: yak-eul je-ttae chaeng-gyeo deu-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take your medicine on time. -
Expression: 하루 세 번, 식후 30분에 드세요.
Pronunciation: ha-ru se beon, sik-hu sam-sip-bun-e deu-se-yo.
Meaning: Take it three times a day, 30 minutes after meals. -
Expression: 푹 쉬어야 해요.
Pronunciation: puk swi-eo-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: You need to get plenty of rest. -
Expression: 물을 많이 마시세요.
Pronunciation: mul-eul man-i ma-si-se-yo.
Meaning: Drink lots of water. -
Expression: 목을 따뜻하게 하세요.
Pronunciation: mok-eul tta-tteut-ha-ge ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Keep your throat warm. -
Expression: 가습기를 사용하는 것이 좋아요.
Pronunciation: ga-seup-gi-reul sa-yong-ha-neun geos-i jo-a-yo.
Meaning: It’s good to use a humidifier. -
Expression: 증상이 나아지고 있어요.
Pronunciation: jeung-sang-i na-a-ji-go iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: My symptoms are getting better. -
Expression: 아직 목이 아파요.
Pronunciation: a-jik mok-i a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My throat still hurts. -
Expression: 약 다 먹으면 다시 와야 하나요?
Pronunciation: yak da meok-eu-myeon da-si wa-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Should I come back after finishing the medicine? -
Expression: 항생제를 처방받았어요.
Pronunciation: hang-saeng-je-reul cheo-bang-bad-ass-eo-yo.
Meaning: I was prescribed antibiotics. -
Expression: 진통제를 먹었어요.
Pronunciation: jin-tong-je-reul meok-eoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: I took a painkiller. -
Expression: 빨리 낫고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: ppal-li nat-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to get better quickly.
Korean Culture Notes
- ENT Clinics (이비인후과): For throat, ear, or nose issues like tonsillitis, Koreans typically visit an 이비인후과 (i-bi-in-hu-gwa), an ENT specialist clinic. These are common and accessible.
- Quick Treatment: Koreans generally prefer quick and effective treatment. Doctors often prescribe medication, including antibiotics if necessary, and sometimes recommend injections (주사 – ju-sa) for faster relief.
- Doctor’s Notes (진단서): If you need to miss work or school due to illness, obtaining a 진단서 (jin-dan-seo – doctor’s note) from the clinic is standard practice.
- Pharmacies (약국): Prescriptions are filled at pharmacies (약국 – yak-guk), which are often located very close to clinics, sometimes even in the same building. Pharmacists provide detailed instructions on how to take the medication.
- Home Remedies: While medical treatment is primary, common home care includes drinking warm beverages like ginger tea (생강차 – saeng-gang-cha) or honey tea (꿀차 – kkul-cha) and ensuring plenty of rest.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Minjun calls his friend Sora to cancel their plans because he has tonsillitis.
Roles: A: Minjun (feeling sick), B: Sora (friend)
-
Expression: A: 여보세요, 소라야. 나 민준이야.
Pronunciation: yeo-bo-se-yo, so-ra-ya. na min-jun-i-ya.
Meaning: Hello, Sora? It’s Minjun. -
Expression: B: 어, 민준아. 무슨 일이야? 목소리가 왜 그래?
Pronunciation: eo, min-jun-a. mu-seun ir-i-ya? mok-so-ri-ga wae geu-rae?
Meaning: Oh, Minjun. What’s up? What’s wrong with your voice? -
Expression: A: 나 편도염에 걸렸어. 목이 너무 아프고 열도 나.
Pronunciation: na pyeon-do-yeom-e geol-lyeoss-eo. mok-i neo-mu a-peu-go yeol-do na.
Meaning: I caught tonsillitis. My throat really hurts and I have a fever too. -
Expression: B: 정말? 괜찮아? 병원은 다녀왔어?
Pronunciation: jeong-mal? gwaen-chan-a? byeong-won-eun da-nyeo-wass-eo?
Meaning: Really? Are you okay? Have you been to the doctor? -
Expression: A: 응, 아까 이비인후과 다녀왔어. 약 처방받았고, 푹 쉬라고 하셨어.
Pronunciation: eung, a-kka i-bi-in-hu-gwa da-nyeo-wass-eo. yak cheo-bang-bad-ass-go, puk swi-ra-go ha-syeoss-eo.
Meaning: Yeah, I went to the ENT clinic earlier. I got a prescription and was told to get plenty of rest. -
Expression: B: 아이고, 어떡해. 그럼 오늘 약속은 취소해야겠다.
Pronunciation: a-i-go, eo-tteok-hae. geu-reom o-neul yak-sok-eun chwi-so-hae-ya-get-da.
Meaning: Oh no, that’s terrible. Then we should cancel our plans for today. -
Expression: A: 미안해. 다음에 꼭 보자.
Pronunciation: mi-an-hae. da-eum-e kkok bo-ja.
Meaning: I’m sorry. Let’s definitely meet next time. -
Expression: B: 괜찮아, 몸조리 잘하고. 약 잘 챙겨 먹고 물 많이 마셔! 빨리 나아!
Pronunciation: gwaen-chan-a, mom-jo-ri jal-ha-go. yak jal chaeng-gyeo meok-go mul man-i ma-syeo! ppal-li na-a!
Meaning: It’s okay, take good care of yourself. Make sure to take your medicine and drink lots of water! Get well soon!
Practice Tips
Remembering medical terms can be tricky, so try practicing these phrases! You could role-play a doctor’s visit with a friend or language partner~. Listen carefully to how Koreans pronounce 편도염 (pyeon-do-yeom) and related symptoms. Using flashcards for vocabulary like 목 (mok – throat), 열 (yeol – fever), and 약 (yak – medicine) can also be very helpful. Stay healthy, and practice often!
