Korean Hospital & Pharmacy Vocabulary병원과 약국에서

doctor

의사 선생님을 만나고 싶어요.I want to see a doctor.

💡 Memory tip: 의(醫, medicine/healing) + 사(師, master/expert) — a "healing expert." The 사 also appears in 교사 (teacher).

Pronunciation: Doctors in Korea are addressed as 의사 선생님 (uisa seonsaengnim) or simply 선생님. The ㅇ in 의 is silent.

medicine / medication

약을 먹어야 해요.You must take medicine.

💡 Memory tip: yak — a yak needs medicine too when it's sick!

Pronunciation: ㄱ final is unreleased. 약을 → [야글] with liaison.

pharmacy

약국에서 감기약을 샀어요.I bought cold medicine at the pharmacy.

💡 Memory tip: 약 (medicine) + 국 (shop/bureau) — the "medicine shop." Same 약 as in 감기약 (cold medicine).

Pronunciation: 약 (medicine) + 국 (shop/bureau). ㄱ + ㄱ = tensification [약꾹].

head / hair

머리가 아파요.My head hurts. (I have a headache.)

💡 Memory tip: One word for both "head" and "hair" — your hair sits on your head. 머리가 아파요 = headache.

Pronunciation: 머리 means both "head" and "hair." Context determines meaning: 머리가 아파요 (headache) vs. 머리를 잘라요 (cut hair).

stomach / belly

배가 아파요.My stomach hurts.

💡 Memory tip: A famous homonym: 배 = stomach, pear, AND boat. Here, 배가 아파요 = stomachache.

Pronunciation: 배 has multiple meanings: stomach, pear, boat, or double/times. Context is key! 배탈 (baetal) = stomachache.

neck / throat

목이 아파요.My throat hurts.

💡 Memory tip: One word for both "neck" and "throat" — they're the same area. 목이 아파요 = sore throat.

Pronunciation: ㄱ final is unreleased. 목이 → [모기] with liaison. 목 means both "neck" and "throat."

fever / heat

열이 나요.I have a fever.

💡 Memory tip: 열 literally means "heat." A fever "comes out": 열이 나다. (열 also means the number ten — context decides.)

Pronunciation: 열이 나다 (yeori nada) = to have a fever (literally "fever comes out"). 열이 → [여리] with liaison.

cough

기침이 심해요.My cough is severe.

💡 Memory tip: Like a fever, a cough "comes out": 기침이 나다. The verb form is 기침하다 (to cough).

Pronunciation: 기침하다 (gichimhada) = to cough. 기침이 나다 = to have a cough (cough comes out).

cold / flu

감기에 걸렸어요.I caught a cold.

💡 Memory tip: gam-gi sounds like "gum-gee" — your nose is gummy when you have a cold!

Pronunciation: 감기에 걸리다 = to catch a cold (literally "to be caught by a cold"). 감기약 (gamgiyak) = cold medicine.

allergy

땅콩 알레르기가 있어요.I have a peanut allergy.

💡 Memory tip: "Allergy" in Hangul — but from the German "Allergie," so it sounds like "al-le-reu-gi," not the English version.

Pronunciation: Konglish from English/German "Allergie." Koreans pronounce it with Korean phonology: 알레르기.

insurance

보험이 있어요?Do you have insurance?

💡 Memory tip: 보(保, protect) + 험(險, risk) — "protection against risk." The 보 also appears in 보호 (protection).

Pronunciation: 건강보험 (geongang boheom) = health insurance. Korea has a national health insurance system (국민건강보험).

prescription

처방전을 약국에 가져가세요.Take the prescription to the pharmacy.

💡 Memory tip: 처방 (prescribing) + 전(箋, slip of paper) — the "prescription slip." The doctor writes it; the pharmacy fills it.

Pronunciation: 처방 (prescription/dispensing) + 전 (document). The doctor writes it, and you take it to a separate pharmacy.

medical examination

진찰을 받고 싶어요.I'd like to get a medical examination.

💡 Memory tip: You "receive" an exam: 진찰을 받다. The same 진(診, diagnose) appears in 진료 (medical treatment).

Pronunciation: 진찰하다 (jinchalhada) = to examine. 진찰을 받다 = to receive an examination.