Health, illness, and medical terms in Korean

When learning a new language, understanding how to communicate about health and medical concerns is crucial. This article will guide you through essential Korean vocabulary related to health, illness, and medical terms. Each term will be highlighted in bold and accompanied by a definition and an example sentence in Korean.

건강 (geongang) – Health
그녀는 매일 운동을 함으로써 건강을 유지하고 있습니다.
This term refers to the state of being free from illness or injury.

병원 (byeongwon) – Hospital
저는 어제 병원에 갔다 왔습니다.
A place where people go to receive medical care.

약국 (yakguk) – Pharmacy
감기약을 사러 가까운 약국에 들렀어요.
A store where medicinal drugs are dispensed and sold.

의사 (uisa) – Doctor
의사 선생님께서는 환자의 증상을 자세히 들어보셨어요.
A qualified practitioner of medicine; a physician.

간호사 (ganhosa) – Nurse
간호사가 환자의 혈압을 측정했습니다.
A person trained to care for the sick or infirm, especially in a hospital.

(yak) – Medicine
이 약은 하루에 세 번 복용해야 합니다.
Substances used for medical treatment, especially a medicine taken by mouth.

진료 (jinryo) – Medical treatment
내일 다시 병원에 가서 진료를 받기로 했습니다.
The treatment of medical conditions in a patient.

수술 (susul) – Surgery
수술이 성공적으로 끝났습니다.
The practice or art of treating diseases, injuries, or deformities by manual or operative procedures.

감기 (gamgi) – Cold
감기 때문에 몸이 많이 아파요.
A common viral infection of the nose and throat.

독감 (dokgam) – Flu
독감이 유행이라 조심해야 해요.
An infectious disease caused by the influenza virus.

알레르기 (allergy) – Allergy
봄이 되면 꽃가루 알레르기가 생겨요.
A condition in which the immune system reacts abnormally to a foreign substance.

처방 (cheobang) – Prescription
의사 선생님께서 약 처방을 해 주셨어요.
A directive issued by a medical practitioner that authorizes a patient to be provided a medicine or treatment.

증상 (jeung-sang) – Symptoms
그는 몸살 증상을 보였습니다.
A physical or mental feature that is regarded as indicating a condition of disease.

예방 (yebang) – Prevention
건강한 식습관은 질병 예방에 도움이 됩니다.
The action of stopping something from happening or arising.

회복 (hoebok) – Recovery
수술 후 회복이 빠르게 진행되고 있습니다.
A return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.

면역력 (myeon-yeong-ryeok) – Immunity
면역력을 강화하기 위해 비타민을 섭취하세요.
The ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells.

통증 (tongjeung) – Pain
팔에 심한 통증이 있어요.
A highly unpleasant physical sensation caused by illness or injury.

진단 (jindan) – Diagnosis
의사는 그녀의 증상을 바탕으로 진단을 내렸습니다.
The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.

Understanding these basic health and medical terms in Korean can significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in medical settings and everyday conversations about health. By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you’ll be better equipped to handle health-related situations while in Korea.

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