How to See a Doctor in China: Appointments, Symptoms, Prescriptions, and Payment

Seeing a doctor in China usually starts with 挂号 (guà hào) — registering for an appointment. Key vocabulary: 预约 (yù yuē) — to make an appointment, 挂号 (guà hào) — registration / appointment number, 排队挂号 (pái duì guà hào) — line up to register, 网上预约 (wǎng shàng yù yuē) — online appointment booking, 当天挂号 (dàng tiān guà hào) — same-day registration, 专家号 (zhuān jiā hào) — specialist appointment, 普通号 (pǔ tōng hào) — general appointment. Starting the conversation: 我要挂号 (wǒ yào guà hào) — I want to register. 我想预约内科 (wǒ xiǎng yù yuē nèi kē) — I'd like to book an internal medicine appointment. 最早什么时候可以看 (zuì zǎo shén me shí hou kě yǐ kàn) — What's the earliest available appointment?

Hospital departments and navigating the system: 科室 (kē shì) — department, 内科 (nèi kē) — internal medicine, 外科 (wài kē) — surgery, 妇产科 (fù chǎn kē) — obstetrics & gynecology, 儿科 (ér kē) — pediatrics, 皮肤科 (pí fū kē) — dermatology, 眼科 (yǎn kē) — ophthalmology, 耳鼻喉科 (ěr bí hóu kē) — ENT (ear, nose, throat), 牙科 (yá kē) — dentistry, 急诊 (jí zhěn) — emergency department. At the registration desk: 有护照吗 (yǒu hù zhào ma) — Do you have a passport? 第一次来吗 (dì yī cì lái ma) — Is this your first time? 挂号费多少钱 (guà hào fèi duō shǎo qián) — How much is the registration fee? 一般在二楼 (yī bān zài èr lóu) — It's usually on the second floor.

Clear symptom description is the most critical part of any doctor visit. Key vocabulary: 症状 (zhèng zhuàng) — symptoms, 不舒服 (bù shū fu) — unwell/uncomfortable, 难受 (nán shòu) — feeling awful, 疼痛 (téng tòng) — pain/ache. Common symptoms: 发烧 (fā shāo) — fever, 咳嗽 (ké sòu) — cough, 头疼 (tóu téng) — headache, 肚子疼 (dù zi téng) — stomachache, 嗓子疼 (sǎng zi téng) — sore throat, 流鼻涕 (liú bí tì) — runny nose, 鼻塞 (bí sāi) — stuffy nose, 头晕 (tóu yūn) — dizzy, 恶心 (ě xīn) — nauseous, 呕吐 (ǒu tù) — vomiting, 拉肚子 (lā dù zi) — diarrhea, 没力气 (méi lì qi) — no energy / weak.

Describing pain and its details: 哪里不舒服 (nǎ lǐ bù shū fu) — Where do you feel unwell? 这里疼 (zhè lǐ téng) — It hurts here. 什么时候开始的 (shén me shí hou kāi shǐ de) — When did it start? 从昨天开始 (cóng zuó tiān kāi shǐ) — Since yesterday. 疼了几天了 (téng le jǐ tiān le) — How many days has it been hurting? Describing the type of pain: 刺痛 (cì tòng) — sharp/stabbing pain, 胀痛 (zhàng tòng) — dull/bloating pain, 一阵一阵的疼 (yī zhèn yī zhèn de téng) — pain that comes and goes, 一直疼 (yī zhí téng) — constant pain. Intensity: 很疼 (hěn téng) — very painful, 有一点疼 (yǒu yī diǎn téng) — slightly painful, 疼得睡不着 (téng de shuì bù zháo) — hurts so much I can't sleep.

Medical history questions: 有没有过敏 (yǒu méi yǒu guò mǐn) — Do you have any allergies? 我对青霉素过敏 (wǒ duì qīng méi sù guò mǐn) — I'm allergic to penicillin. 以前有什么病 (yǐ qián yǒu shén me bìng) — Have you had any illnesses before? 在吃什么药 (zài chī shén me yào) — What medications are you currently taking? 怀孕了吗 (huái yùn le ma) — Are you pregnant? (for female patients). 有没有发烧 (yǒu méi yǒu fā shāo) — Do you have a fever? 量一下体温 (liáng yī xià tǐ wēn) — Let's take your temperature.

After examination, the doctor will give a diagnosis and treatment plan. Key vocabulary: 诊断 (zhěn duàn) — diagnosis, 检查 (jiǎn chá) — examination/tests, 化验 (huà yàn) — lab test, 血常规 (xuè cháng guī) — routine blood test, 拍片子 (pāi piàn zi) — take an X-ray/scan, CT检查 (CT jiǎn chá) — CT scan, B超 (B chāo) — ultrasound. Doctor's instructions: 需要做一个检查 (xū yào zuò yī gè jiǎn chá) — You need to get a test done. 去二楼化验血 (qù èr lóu huà yàn xuè) — Go to the second floor for a blood test. 结果要等一个小时 (jié guǒ yào děng yī gè xiǎo shí) — Results will take about an hour.

Receiving the diagnosis: 不是什么大问题 (bù shì shén me dà wèn tí) — It's nothing serious. 问题不大 (wèn tí bù dà) — It's not a big problem. 你需要多休息 (nǐ xū yào duō xiū xi) — You need more rest. Common diagnoses: 感冒 (gǎn mào) — common cold, 流感 (liú gǎn) — flu, 发炎 (fā yán) — inflammation, 感染 (gǎn rǎn) — infection, 过敏 (guò mǐn) — allergy, 细菌感染 (xì jūn gǎn rǎn) — bacterial infection, 病毒感染 (bìng dú gǎn rǎn) — viral infection. Questions to ask: 是什么病 (shì shén me bìng) — What illness is it? 严重吗 (yán zhòng ma) — Is it serious? 会传染吗 (huì chuán rǎn ma) — Is it contagious? 需要住院吗 (xū yào zhù yuàn ma) — Do I need to be hospitalized? 多久能好 (duō jiǔ néng hǎo) — How long until I recover?

After the diagnosis, you'll get a prescription to fill at the hospital pharmacy. Key vocabulary: 处方 (chǔ fāng) — prescription, 药方 (yào fāng) — prescription slip, 取药 (qǔ yào) — pick up medicine, 药房 (yào fáng) — pharmacy, 西药 (xī yào) — Western medicine, 中药 (zhōng yào) — Chinese medicine, 中成药 (zhōng chéng yào) — prepared Chinese medicine. Understanding the prescription: 一天两次 (yī tiān liǎng cì) — twice a day, 一天三次 (yī tiān sān cì) — three times a day, 一次一片 (yī cì yī piàn) — one tablet each time, 一次两粒 (yī cì liǎng lì) — two capsules each time, 饭后吃 (fàn hòu chī) — take after meals, 饭前吃 (fàn qián chī) — take before meals, 空腹吃 (kōng fù chī) — take on an empty stomach.

Payment process: 先去交费 (xiān qù jiāo fèi) — Go pay first. 交费处 (jiāo fèi chù) — payment counter, 多少钱 (duō shǎo qián) — How much? 可以刷卡吗 (kě yǐ shuā kǎ ma) — Can I pay by card? 微信支付 (wēi xìn zhī fù) — WeChat Pay, 支付宝 (zhī fù bǎo) — Alipay, 需要发票吗 (xū yào fā piào ma) — Do you need a receipt/invoice? After payment, take the receipt to the pharmacy: 凭处方取药 (píng chǔ fāng qǔ yào) — Pick up medicine with your prescription. Useful final questions: 这个药有副作用吗 (zhè ge yào yǒu fù zuò yòng ma) — Does this medicine have side effects? 需要吃几天 (xū yào chī jǐ tiān) — How many days should I take it? 如果不好要再来吗 (rú guǒ bù hǎo yào zài lái ma) — Should I come back if I don't get better? 可以开病假条吗 (kě yǐ kāi bìng jià tiáo ma) — Can you write a sick leave note?