At some point while living in China, you will get sick. And when that happens, walking into a Chinese hospital can feel overwhelming: long lines, unfamiliar procedures, and vocabulary you never learned in your textbook. But seeing a doctor does not have to be stressful. With a few key phrases and an understanding of how the system works, you can navigate a Chinese hospital confidently and get the care you need. First, it helps to know the basic structure. Most Chinese hospitals are public and work on a 挂号 (guàhào) — registration — system. You cannot just walk in and see a doctor; you must first register for a specific department and get a queue number. You can register at the front desk in the lobby, at a self-service machine, or increasingly, on the hospital’s WeChat mini-program the night before. For common illnesses, you will usually go to 内科 (nèikē) — internal medicine. When you arrive at the registration desk, you will need your ID or passport and, if you have one, your 医保卡 (yībǎokǎ) — medical insurance card. The staff will ask which department you want and give you a numbered ticket. Then you go to the waiting area outside the doctor’s office and wait for your number to be called. Once you are in the consultation room, the doctor will usually start with a simple question: “你哪里不舒服？” (Nǐ nǎlǐ bù shūfu?) — “Where are you feeling unwell?” This is your moment to describe your symptoms clearly. The more specific you can be, the better. Here are the most useful symptom phrases: 我头疼。 (Wǒ tóu téng.) — I have a headache. 我发烧了。 (Wǒ fāshāo le.) — I have a fever. 我咳嗽，嗓子疼。 (Wǒ késou, sǎngzi téng.) — I’m coughing and my throat hurts. 我拉肚子。 (Wǒ lā dùzi.) — I have diarrhoea. 我胃不舒服。 (Wǒ wèi bù shūfu.) — My stomach feels bad. 我流鼻涕，有点感冒。 (Wǒ liú bítì, yǒudiǎn gǎnmào.) — I have a runny nose, I think I have a cold. You can also add details about when it started and how bad it is: 从昨天开始的。 (Cóng zuótiān kāishǐ de.) — It started yesterday. 已经三天了。 (Yǐjīng sān tiān le.) — It’s been three days. 有点严重。 (Yǒudiǎn yánzhòng.) — It’s kind of bad. The doctor will then usually check your temperature, listen to your chest, and ask a few more questions. They may send you for a 验血 (yàn xuè) — blood test — or other examinations. After diagnosing you, they will write a 处方 (chǔfāng) — prescription — and tell you what to do next. Want to know more? Read part 2 of our article! |
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