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Unit 10 · Help Lesson 55 7 min Free in the app

Illness, injury and seeing a doctor

Explain that you feel sick or injured, ask for a doctor, hospital, clinic, ambulance, and describe symptoms such as fever, pain, dizziness, allergy, or stomachache. A hospital emergency department in Guangzhou at two in the morning. You've had a fever since the afternoon, and now you're dizzy.

看病

Key phrases

The 6 phrases this lesson is built around, with the words that make them up. Tap ▶ to listen, or the turtle to hear it slowly.

  • 我不舒服。

    Wǒ bù shūfu.

    I do not feel well.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 不bù
    • 舒服shūfu

  • 我需要医生。

    Wǒ xūyào yīshēng.

    I need a doctor.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 需要xūyào
    • 医生yīshēng

  • 请带我去医院。

    Qǐng dài wǒ qù yīyuàn.

    Please take me to the hospital.

    • 请Qǐng
    • 带dài
    • 我wǒ
    • 去qù
    • 医院yīyuàn

  • 我发烧了。

    Wǒ fāshāo le.

    I have a fever.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 发烧fāshāo
    • 了le

  • 我头晕。

    Wǒ tóuyūn.

    I feel dizzy.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 头晕tóuyūn

  • 我有旅行保险。

    Wǒ yǒu lǚxíng bǎoxiǎn.

    I have travel insurance.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 有yǒu
    • 旅行lǚxíng
    • 保险bǎoxiǎn

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.

  • 我生病了。

    Wǒ shēngbìng le.

    I am sick.

  • 我受伤了。

    Wǒ shòushāng le.

    I am injured.

  • 附近有医院吗？

    Fùjìn yǒu yīyuàn ma?

    Is there a hospital nearby?

  • 附近有诊所吗？

    Fùjìn yǒu zhěnsuǒ ma?

    Is there a clinic nearby?

  • 请叫救护车。

    Qǐng jiào jiùhùchē.

    Please call an ambulance.

  • 我头疼。

    Wǒ tóuténg.

    I have a headache.

  • 我肚子痛。

    Wǒ dùzi tòng.

    I have a stomachache.

  • 我想吐。

    Wǒ xiǎng tù.

    I feel like vomiting.

  • 我过敏了。

    Wǒ guòmǐn le.

    I am having an allergic reaction.

  • 我呼吸困难。

    Wǒ hūxī kùnnán.

    I have difficulty breathing.

  • 我胸口痛。

    Wǒ xiōngkǒu tòng.

    I have chest pain.

  • 我流血了。

    Wǒ liúxiě le.

    I am bleeding.

  • 我摔倒了。

    Wǒ shuāidǎo le.

    I fell down.

  • 我的脚扭伤了。

    Wǒ de jiǎo niǔshāng le.

    I sprained my foot.

  • 可以帮我翻译给医生吗？

    Kěyǐ bāng wǒ fānyì gěi yīshēng ma?

    Could you help translate for the doctor?

  • 请帮我写下诊断结果。

    Qǐng bāng wǒ xiě xià zhěnduàn jiéguǒ.

    Please help me write down the diagnosis.

  • 谢谢您的帮助。

    Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.

    Thank you for your help.

What you’ll hear, and how to answer

Staff won’t follow your script. These are things they are likely to say here, with a reply that works.

  1. Staff

    先挂号，您哪里不舒服？

    Xiān guàhào, nín nǎlǐ bù shūfu?

    Please register first. What's the trouble?

    You

    我不舒服。

    Wǒ bù shūfu.

    I do not feel well.

  2. Staff

    先量一下体温。还有别的症状吗？

    Xiān liáng yíxià tǐwēn. Hái yǒu bié de zhèngzhuàng ma?

    Let's take your temperature first. Any other symptoms?

    You

    我头晕。

    Wǒ tóuyūn.

    I feel dizzy.

Play the scene

A hospital emergency department in Guangzhou at two in the morning. You've had a fever since the afternoon, and now you're dizzy.

广州·医院急诊 · A hospital emergency room in Guangzhou

  1. Staff

    先挂号，您哪里不舒服？

    Xiān guàhào, nín nǎlǐ bù shūfu?

    Please register first. What's the trouble?

  2. You

    我发烧了。

    Wǒ fāshāo le.

    I have a fever.

  3. Staff

    先量一下体温。还有别的症状吗？

    Xiān liáng yíxià tǐwēn. Hái yǒu bié de zhèngzhuàng ma?

    Let's take your temperature first. Any other symptoms?

  4. You

    我头晕。

    Wǒ tóuyūn.

    I feel dizzy.

  5. Staff

    三十九度，要验个血。

    Sānshíjiǔ dù, yào yàn ge xiě.

    Thirty-nine degrees. We need to do a blood test.

  6. You

    我有旅行保险。

    Wǒ yǒu lǚxíng bǎoxiǎn.

    I have travel insurance.

  7. Staff

    保险可以报销，单子都要留好。

    Bǎoxiǎn kěyǐ bàoxiāo, dānzi dōu yào liú hǎo.

    Your insurance can pay you back, so keep all the paperwork.

  8. You

    请帮我写下诊断结果。

    Qǐng bāng wǒ xiě xià zhěnduàn jiéguǒ.

    Please help me write down the diagnosis.

Culture tip

Allergy and breathing difficulty

Use 我过敏了 for allergic reaction. 我呼吸困难 is urgent and may require immediate medical help.

Which phrase means “I have a fever”?

Show the answer

我发烧了。 — I have a fever.

Go deeper

Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.

Key Medical Terms

不舒服 Not feeling well. This is a general phrase you can use before explaining specific symptoms.

我不舒服。 Wǒ bù shūfu. I do not feel well.

生病 To be sick or ill. Use this when you feel generally unwell and may need medical help.

我生病了。 Wǒ shēngbìng le. I am sick.

受伤 To be injured. Use this for falls, cuts, sprains, bleeding, or other physical injuries.

我受伤了。 Wǒ shòushāng le. I am injured.

医院 / 诊所 Hospital and clinic. A hospital is usually for more serious care; a clinic may be enough for minor illness or injury.

附近有医院吗？ Fùjìn yǒu yīyuàn ma? Is there a hospital nearby?

救护车 Ambulance. Use this when the situation is urgent, such as serious injury, chest pain, breathing difficulty, or fainting.

请叫救护车。 Qǐng jiào jiùhùchē. Please call an ambulance.

旅行保险 Travel insurance. It may help cover medical costs, emergency care, or documentation for reimbursement.

我有旅行保险。 Wǒ yǒu lǚxíng bǎoxiǎn. I have travel insurance.

Medical Help Flow

Step 1: Say you feel unwell or injured

Start with 我不舒服, 我生病了, or 我受伤了 so others understand you need medical help.

Step 2: Ask for the right place

For serious issues, ask for a hospital or ambulance. For minor issues, ask whether there is a clinic nearby.

Step 3: Describe symptoms clearly

Use short symptom phrases such as 我发烧了, 我头疼, 我肚子痛, 我头晕, or 我想吐.

Step 4: Identify urgent symptoms

Breathing difficulty, chest pain, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, or serious injury should be treated as urgent.

Step 5: Ask for translation and records

Ask someone to translate for the doctor and write down the diagnosis for insurance or follow-up treatment.

Useful Medical Patterns

我……了 Use this pattern for completed or current conditions, such as fever, sickness, injury, allergy, bleeding, or falling.

我发烧了。 Wǒ fāshāo le. I have a fever.

我……痛 Use this to say that a body part hurts.

我肚子痛。 Wǒ dùzi tòng. I have a stomachache.

附近有……吗？ Use this to ask whether a hospital, clinic, or pharmacy is nearby.

附近有诊所吗？ Fùjìn yǒu zhěnsuǒ ma? Is there a clinic nearby?

请带我去…… Use this when you need someone to take you to a hospital, clinic, pharmacy, or safe place.

请带我去医院。 Qǐng dài wǒ qù yīyuàn. Please take me to the hospital.

Common Symptoms

Fever and headache

Use 我发烧了 for fever and 我头疼 for headache. You can also ask to have your temperature checked.

Stomachache and nausea

Use 我肚子痛 for stomachache and 我想吐 when you feel like vomiting.

Dizziness

Use 我头晕 if you feel dizzy. Sit down and ask for help if you feel faint.

Urgent Symptoms and Injuries

Allergy and breathing difficulty

Use 我过敏了 for allergic reaction. 我呼吸困难 is urgent and may require immediate medical help.

Chest pain

Chest pain can be serious. Say 我胸口痛 and ask for a doctor or ambulance.

Bleeding, fall, and sprain

Use 我流血了, 我摔倒了, or 我的脚扭伤了 to explain common injuries.

Interactive Scenarios

Feeling sick

  • Traveler我不舒服。

    Wǒ bù shūfu.

    I do not feel well.

  • Traveler我发烧了。

    Wǒ fāshāo le.

    I have a fever.

  • Traveler我需要医生。

    Wǒ xūyào yīshēng.

    I need a doctor.

Serious symptom

  • Traveler我呼吸困难。

    Wǒ hūxī kùnnán.

    I have difficulty breathing.

  • Traveler请叫救护车。

    Qǐng jiào jiùhùchē.

    Please call an ambulance.

  • Traveler请带我去医院。

    Qǐng dài wǒ qù yīyuàn.

    Please take me to the hospital.

Injury after a fall

  • Traveler我摔倒了。

    Wǒ shuāidǎo le.

    I fell down.

  • Traveler我的脚扭伤了。

    Wǒ de jiǎo niǔshāng le.

    I sprained my foot.

  • Traveler附近有诊所吗？

    Fùjìn yǒu zhěnsuǒ ma?

    Is there a clinic nearby?

Mini Quiz

How do you say “I do not feel well”?
  • 我不舒服。 ✓ Answer
  • 我很舒服。
  • 我很高兴。
Which phrase means “I have a fever”?
  • 我发烧了。 ✓ Answer
  • 我头晕。
  • 我摔倒了。
How do you ask whether there is a hospital nearby?
  • 附近有医院吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 附近有售票处吗？
  • 附近有出口吗？
Which phrase means “I have difficulty breathing”?
  • 我呼吸困难。 ✓ Answer
  • 我肚子痛。
  • 我头疼。

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