Language/Korean/Vocabulary/Health

Korean Vocabulary - Health

Hi Korean learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about health-related vocabulary in Korean. This will also help you to communicate better with healthcare providers in Korea. Knowing this vocabulary can help you feel confident in getting the care you need. We will also learn some cultural practices that contribute to health and well-being in Korea.

Common health issues

Here are some common health issues and their Korean translations:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
두통	dutoong	headache
복통	boktoong	stomachache
열	yeol	fever
기침	kichim	cough
감기	gamgi	common cold
인플루엔자	inpeulluenja	influenza

You can use these words to describe your symptoms to a Korean healthcare provider. Here is an example of how to use these words in a dialogue:

• Person 1: 두통이 있어요. (I have a headache.)
• Person 2: 언제부터 그랬어요? (Since when have you had it?)

Going to the doctor

If you are feeling unwell and need to see a doctor in Korea, you can say "의사를 보고 싶어요" (uesareul bogo sipeoyo) which means "I want to see a doctor." You can also ask for a hospital "병원을 찾아주세요" (byeongwoneul chajajuseyo). Should you need to go to the emergency room, you can ask for an ambulance "구급차를 부르세요" (gugeupchareul bureuseyo).

It's important to bring your identification card, passport, or any relevant insurance cards when visiting healthcare providers. If you don't speak Korean fluently, you can bring a friend or a translator to help you communicate with the healthcare provider. You can also learn how to say "I don't speak Korean well, please speak slowly" by saying "한국어를 잘 못해요, 천천히 말해주세요" (hangugeoreul jal mothae yo, cheoncheonhi malhaejuseyo).

Here is an example of a dialogue when you want to visit a doctor:

• Person 1: 의사를 보고 싶어요. (I want to see a doctor.)
• Person 2: 네, 이름과 생년월일 좀 알려주세요. (Sure, can you tell me your name and date of birth?)

Traditional Korean health practices

Koreans place great emphasis on maintaining balance within the body and with nature. Here are some traditional Korean practices to maintain health and well-being:

Korean spa - 찜질방 (jjimjilbang)

Korean spas are a popular place for relaxation. The 찜질방 (jjimjilbang) is a gender-segregated area in the spa where people can enjoy a range of hot rooms, cold rooms, baths, and saunas. In the 찜질방, some people use a hot towel called 냉마루 (naengmaru) to cool down their body after exposure to hot rooms.

Korean tea - 한차 (hancha)

Korean tea, or 한차, is a traditional beverage that is cherished for its taste and health benefits. Some examples of teas include:

• 홍차 (hongcha) - black tea
• 녹차 (nokcha) - green tea
• 보리차 (boricha) - barley tea
• 율무차 (yulmucha) - Job's tears tea

Korean food - 한식 (hansik)

Korean food, or 한식, is known for its variety and health benefits. It often includes a range of grains, vegetables, meats, and seafood. Some examples of popular Korean dishes include:

• 비빔밥 (bibimbap) - mixed rice bowl
• 김치찌개 (kimchijjigae) - kimchi stew
• 불고기 (bulgogi) - marinated beef

As with any healthy diet, balance is key. Koreans believe that a balanced diet contains five colors of food (white, black, red, green, and yellow) and five flavors (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy).

Conclusion

In this lesson, we learned about health-related vocabulary in Korean. We also learned about finding and communicating with a healthcare provider in Korea, along with some traditional Korean practices to maintain health and well-being. Make sure to practice using these words and phrases in context. To improve your Korean Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Food and Ingredients & Geography.

Other Lessons

• Feelings and Emotions
• Animals
• How to say Good Bye?
• Days of the Week
• Geography
• Body
• Count to 10
• Drinks
• Food

Sources

• 10 Timely Vocabulary About Health In Korean Language - Ling App
• Sick of Not Knowing Korean? 50+ Medical Korean Words and ...
• Must-Know Korean Medical/Hospital Words & Phrases | TOPIK GUIDE