Understanding Eye Floaters in Korean

Discussing specific medical symptoms like eye floaters in Korean requires precise vocabulary. This guide covers the essential term “비문증” (bi-mun-jeung), related expressions for describing symptoms, and phrases useful when visiting an eye clinic (안과 – an-gwa) in Korea. Learn how to communicate your eye condition effectively.

Core Term: Eye Floaters

• Expression: 비문증
  Pronunciation: bi-mun-jeung
  Meaning: Eye floaters (Literally translates to “flying mosquito symptom,” describing the appearance of small specks floating in one’s vision)

Describing Symptoms

• Expression: 눈앞에 검은 점이 보여요.
  Pronunciation: nun-ap-e geom-eun jeom-i bo-yeo-yo.
  Meaning: I see black dots in front of my eyes.
• Expression: 눈에 뭐가 떠다니는 것 같아요.
  Pronunciation: nun-e mwo-ga tteo-da-ni-neun geot ga-ta-yo.
  Meaning: It feels like something is floating in my eye(s).
• Expression: 시야에 거미줄 같은 것이 보여요.
  Pronunciation: si-ya-e geo-mi-jul ga-teun geos-i bo-yeo-yo.
  Meaning: I see something like a spider web in my field of vision.
• Expression: 눈을 움직이면 같이 따라 움직여요.
  Pronunciation: nun-eul um-jik-i-myeon ga-chi tta-ra um-jik-yeo-yo.
  Meaning: When I move my eyes, it moves along with them.
• Expression: 밝은 곳에서 더 잘 보여요.
  Pronunciation: bal-geun gos-e-seo deo jal bo-yeo-yo.
  Meaning: It’s more visible in bright places.
• Expression: 갑자기 이런 증상이 생겼어요.
  Pronunciation: gap-ja-gi i-reon jeung-sang-i saeng-gyeoss-eo-yo.
  Meaning: These symptoms appeared suddenly.
• Expression: 날파리 같은 것이 날아다녀요.
  Pronunciation: nal-pa-ri ga-teun geos-i nar-a-da-nyeo-yo.
  Meaning: Something like a gnat is flying around (in my vision).
• Expression: 시야가 가끔 흐려져요.
  Pronunciation: si-ya-ga ga-kkeum heu-ryeo-jyeo-yo.
  Meaning: My vision gets blurry sometimes.
• Expression: 눈에 이물질이 들어간 느낌이에요.
  Pronunciation: nun-e i-mul-jil-i deur-eo-gan neu-kkim-i-e-yo.
  Meaning: It feels like there’s a foreign object in my eye.
• Expression: 빛 번쩍임도 가끔 느껴요.
  Pronunciation: bit beon-jjeog-im-do ga-kkeum neu-kkyeo-yo.
  Meaning: I sometimes feel flashes of light too.
• Expression: 흰 벽을 보면 더 심해 보여요.
  Pronunciation: huin byeog-eul bo-myeon deo sim-hae bo-yeo-yo.
  Meaning: It looks worse when I look at a white wall.
• Expression: 이게 비문증 증상인가요?
  Pronunciation: i-ge bi-mun-jeung jeung-sang-in-ga-yo?
  Meaning: Are these symptoms of eye floaters?

Visiting the Eye Clinic

• Expression: 안과에 가야 할 것 같아요.
  Pronunciation: an-gwa-e ga-ya hal geot ga-ta-yo.
  Meaning: I think I need to go to an eye clinic.
• Expression: 눈 검사를 받고 싶어요.
  Pronunciation: nun geom-sa-reul bat-go sip-eo-yo.
  Meaning: I want to get an eye examination.
• Expression: 시력 검사도 해 주세요.
  Pronunciation: si-ryeok geom-sa-do hae ju-se-yo.
  Meaning: Please check my vision too.
• Expression: 의사 선생님과 상담하고 싶어요.
  Pronunciation: ui-sa seon-saeng-nim-gwa sang-dam-ha-go sip-eo-yo.
  Meaning: I want to consult with the doctor.
• Expression: 비문증 때문에 왔어요.
  Pronunciation: bi-mun-jeung ttae-mun-e wass-eo-yo.
  Meaning: I came because of eye floaters.
• Expression: 언제부터 이런 증상이 있었어요?
  Pronunciation: eon-je-bu-teo i-reon jeung-sang-i iss-eoss-eo-yo?
  Meaning: Since when have you had these symptoms? (Doctor might ask this)
• Expression: 치료가 필요한가요?
  Pronunciation: chi-ryo-ga pir-yo-han-ga-yo?
  Meaning: Is treatment necessary?
• Expression: 심각한 문제는 아닌가요?
  Pronunciation: sim-gak-han mun-je-neun a-nin-ga-yo?
  Meaning: Is it not a serious problem?
• Expression: 안약을 처방해 주실 수 있나요?
  Pronunciation: an-yag-eul cheo-bang-hae ju-sil su iss-na-yo?
  Meaning: Can you prescribe eye drops?
• Expression: 정기적으로 검사를 받아야 하나요?
  Pronunciation: jeong-gi-jeog-eu-ro geom-sa-reul bad-a-ya ha-na-yo?
  Meaning: Do I need regular check-ups?
• Expression: 눈 건강을 위해 뭘 조심해야 하나요?
  Pronunciation: nun geon-gang-eul wi-hae mwol jo-sim-hae-ya ha-na-yo?
  Meaning: What should I be careful about for my eye health?
• Expression: 진료 예약하고 싶습니다.
  Pronunciation: jin-ryo ye-yak-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da.
  Meaning: I would like to make an appointment for a consultation.

Related Eye Vocabulary

• Expression: 눈
  Pronunciation: nun
  Meaning: Eye
• Expression: 시력
  Pronunciation: si-ryeok
  Meaning: Vision, eyesight
• Expression: 안과
  Pronunciation: an-gwa
  Meaning: Ophthalmology department, eye clinic
• Expression: 안과 의사
  Pronunciation: an-gwa ui-sa
  Meaning: Ophthalmologist, eye doctor
• Expression: 검사 / 진찰
  Pronunciation: geom-sa / jin-chal
  Meaning: Examination / Check-up
• Expression: 증상
  Pronunciation: jeung-sang
  Meaning: Symptom
• Expression: 안약
  Pronunciation: an-yak
  Meaning: Eye drops
• Expression: 처방전
  Pronunciation: cheo-bang-jeon
  Meaning: Prescription
• Expression: 망막
  Pronunciation: mang-mak
  Meaning: Retina
• Expression: 노화
  Pronunciation: no-hwa
  Meaning: Aging
• Expression: 눈 건강
  Pronunciation: nun geon-gang
  Meaning: Eye health
• Expression: 시야
  Pronunciation: si-ya
  Meaning: Field of vision

Korean Culture Notes

• Accessibility of Clinics: Eye clinics (안과 – an-gwa) are very common and accessible in Korea, often located in commercial buildings or near residential areas. You usually don’t need a referral to see a specialist.
• Describing Symptoms: Koreans tend to be quite specific when describing physical symptoms. Using descriptive words like “떠다니다” (tteo-da-ni-da – to float around) or comparing the floaters to “날파리” (nal-pa-ri – gnats) or “거미줄” (geo-mi-jul – spider web) is common and helps doctors understand the condition.
• Health Check-ups: Regular health check-ups, often including basic eye exams, are encouraged and sometimes provided by employers in Korea. Awareness of conditions like 비문증 is relatively high.
• Expressing Concern: It’s normal to express concern about symptoms, asking questions like “심각한 문제는 아닌가요?” (sim-gak-han mun-je-neun a-nin-ga-yo? – Is it not a serious problem?). Doctors generally provide reassurance if the condition is benign.
• Respect for Doctors: Address doctors respectfully as “의사 선생님” (ui-sa seon-saeng-nim). Using formal language (using -요/-ㅂ니다 endings) is standard in medical settings.

Real Conversation Example

Situation: A patient (A) visits an eye clinic to discuss symptoms of eye floaters with the doctor (B).
Roles: A: Patient, B: Eye Doctor (안과 의사)

• Expression: A: 안녕하세요, 의사 선생님. 눈앞에 뭐가 자꾸 떠다녀서 왔어요.
  Pronunciation: an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, ui-sa seon-saeng-nim. nun-ap-e mwo-ga ja-kku tteo-da-nyeo-seo wass-eo-yo.
  Meaning: Hello, Doctor. I came because something keeps floating in front of my eyes.
• Expression: B: 아, 그러세요? 언제부터 그러셨어요? 구체적으로 어떻게 보이시나요?
  Pronunciation: a, geu-reo-se-yo? eon-je-bu-teo geu-reo-syeoss-eo-yo? gu-che-jeog-eu-ro eo-tteo-ke bo-i-si-na-yo?
  Meaning: Oh, really? Since when has this been happening? How does it look specifically?
• Expression: A: 한 달 정도 된 것 같아요. 검은 점이나 실 같은 것들이 보여요. 눈을 움직이면 따라 움직이고요.
  Pronunciation: han dal jeong-do doen geot ga-ta-yo. geom-eun jeom-i-na sil ga-teun geot-deur-i bo-yeo-yo. nun-eul um-jik-i-myeon tta-ra um-jik-i-go-yo.
  Meaning: I think it’s been about a month. I see black dots or thread-like things. They move when I move my eyes.
• Expression: B: 네, 전형적인 비문증 증상이시네요. 혹시 빛 번쩍임 같은 증상도 있으셨나요?
  Pronunciation: ne, jeon-hyeong-jeog-in bi-mun-jeung jeung-sang-i-si-ne-yo. hok-si bit beon-jjeog-im ga-teun jeung-sang-do iss-eu-syeoss-na-yo?
  Meaning: Yes, those are typical symptoms of eye floaters. Have you also experienced symptoms like flashes of light?
• Expression: A: 가끔 그런 것 같기도 해요. 심각한 건가요?
  Pronunciation: ga-kkeum geu-reon geot gat-gi-do hae-yo. sim-gak-han geon-ga-yo?
  Meaning: Sometimes I think so too. Is it serious?
• Expression: B: 대부분 노화로 인한 자연스러운 현상이라 크게 걱정하실 필요는 없습니다. 그래도 정확한 진단을 위해 눈 검사를 좀 해보겠습니다. 안쪽으로 들어오세요.
  Pronunciation: dae-bu-bun no-hwa-ro in-han ja-yeon-seu-reo-un hyeon-sang-i-ra keu-ge geok-jeong-ha-sil pir-yo-neun eop-seum-ni-da. geu-rae-do jeong-hwak-han jin-dan-eul wi-hae nun geom-sa-reul jom hae-bo-get-seum-ni-da. an-jjok-eu-ro deur-eo-o-se-yo.
  Meaning: In most cases, it’s a natural phenomenon due to aging, so you don’t need to worry too much. However, let’s do an eye examination for an accurate diagnosis. Please come inside.
• Expression: A: 네, 알겠습니다. 감사합니다.
  Pronunciation: ne, al-get-seum-ni-da. gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
  Meaning: Yes, I understand. Thank you.

Practice Tips

Familiarizing yourself with these terms is the first step! Try describing the symptoms aloud as if you were explaining them to someone~. You can also practice the conversation example with a friend or language partner, taking turns playing the patient and the doctor. Visiting an actual 안과 for a check-up (if needed) is also great real-world practice! Don’t hesitate to use these phrases when discussing eye health in Korean! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Good luck!)