Chinese Vocabulary · 中文词汇
Medical and Body Words in Chinese
医疗与身体词汇 yīliáo yǔ shēntǐ cíhuì
Here’s one set of words you hope you never need, but should definitely know: if someone needs an 救护车 (jiùhùchē, “ambulance”), the number to dial in Taiwan is 119, while in mainland China it is 120. Knowing the words for hospitals, treatments and body parts will help you explain what is wrong, whether you are the patient or helping a friend.
At the hospital
Medical and Health Words in Chinese
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Korean | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 病房 | bìngfáng | Hospital ward; patient room | 병실 | 病室 |
| 病情 | bìngqíng | Patient’s condition; state of an illness | 병세 | 病状 |
| 疾病 | jíbìng | Disease; illness | 질병 | 疾病 |
| 急诊 | jízhěn | Emergency treatment; emergency room | 응급 진료 | 救急外来 |
| 救护车 | jiùhùchē | Ambulance | 구급차 | 救急車 |
| 门诊 | ménzhěn | Outpatient clinic; outpatient service | 외래 진료 | 外来診療 |
| 手术 | shǒushù | Surgery; operation | 수술 | 手術 |
| 药品 | yàopǐn | Medicine; pharmaceutical products | 의약품 | 薬品 |
| 药物 | yàowù | Medication; drug | 약물 | 薬物 |
| 诊断 | zhěnduàn | To diagnose; diagnosis | 진단 | 診断 |
| 治疗 | zhìliáo | To treat; treatment | 치료 | 治療 |
| 中医 | zhōngyī | Traditional Chinese medicine; TCM doctor | 한의학; 중의 | 中医学; 漢方医 |
急诊 (jízhěn) vs 门诊 (ménzhěn)
急诊 (jízhěn) is the emergency department, for sudden and serious problems. 门诊 (ménzhěn) is the outpatient clinic, where you register, see a doctor and go home the same day. A patient who stays overnight is in a 病房 (bìngfáng).
药品 (yàopǐn) vs 药物 (yàowù)
Both are “medicine,” but 药品 (yàopǐn) is the product you buy or the pharmacy goods, while 药物 (yàowù) is the drug or medication as a substance used in treatment (药物治疗 (yàowù zhìliáo), “drug therapy”).
中医 (zhōngyī)
In Taiwan, traditional Chinese medicine is part of everyday health care. You can see a 中医 (zhōngyī) doctor with your national health insurance card, just like at a Western-medicine clinic.
Putting it all together
Examples
他昨天晚上被救護車送到醫院，在急診做了檢查他昨天晚上被救护车送到医院，在急诊做了检查Last night he was taken to the hospital by ambulance and got examined in the emergency room.
醫生說他的病情不嚴重，只要用藥物治療就可以了，不用做手術医生说他的病情不严重，只要用药物治疗就可以了，不用做手术The doctor said his condition isn’t serious; medication is enough, and he doesn’t need surgery.
Head to toe
Body Part Words in Chinese
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Korean | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 大脑 | dànǎo | Brain; cerebrum | 대뇌; 뇌 | 大脳 |
| 汗水 | hànshuǐ | Sweat | 땀 | 汗 |
| 肌肉 | jīròu | Muscle | 근육 | 筋肉 |
| 泪水 | lèishuǐ | Tears (more literary) | 눈물 | 涙 |
| 人体 | réntǐ | Human body | 인체 | 人体 |
| 身材 | shēncái | Figure; physique | 몸매; 체격 | 体型; スタイル |
| 手指 | shǒuzhǐ | Finger | 손가락 | 指 |
| 胃 | wèi | Stomach | 위 | 胃 |
| 腰 | yāo | Waist; lower back | 허리 | 腰 |
| 牙齿 | yáchǐ | Tooth; teeth | 치아 | 歯 |
| 眼泪 | yǎnlèi | Tears | 눈물 | 涙 |
| 嘴巴 | zuǐba | Mouth | 입 | 口 |
身体 (shēntǐ), 人体 (réntǐ) and 身材 (shēncái)
身体 (shēntǐ) is the body in daily life, like “my body feels tired.” 人体 (réntǐ) is the human body as a subject, such as in science or medicine. 身材 (shēncái) is your figure or build, how tall, slim or strong you look.
眼泪 (yǎnlèi), 泪水 (lèishuǐ) and 汗水 (hànshuǐ)
眼泪 (yǎnlèi) is the everyday word for “tears.” 泪水 (lèishuǐ) means the same, but sounds more literary and emotional. 汗水 (hànshuǐ) is sweat, and it often stands for hard work, as in “the sweat of effort.”
Putting it all together
Examples
他每天運動，所以肌肉很結實，身材也很好他每天运动，所以肌肉很结实，身材也很好He exercises every day, so his muscles are strong and he has a great build.
我的牙齒很痛，痛得眼淚都流出來了我的牙齿很痛，痛得眼泪都流出来了My tooth hurt so much that tears came out.
Test yourself
Vocabulary Quiz
