New here? This is lesson 113 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Telling the doctor in Japanese
Leo sits on Dr. Ishida's exam couch with a cold he has nursed for days. The doctor asks how long, and Leo answers as if the fever were rude.
You will name a fever and a cough, say how long they have lasted, and say if they are mild or getting worse.
Then you can ask how long until you feel better. Keep it polite. The doctor will write while you talk.
By the end of this lesson
Tell the doctor your symptoms, how long they have lasted, and how bad they are.
- 熱があると思います。I think I have a fever.
- 咳が出ます。I have a cough.
- 三日前からです。It started three days ago.
- だんだん悪くなっています。It's getting worse.
- 軽いですが、よくなりません。It's mild, but it isn't getting better.
- どのくらいでよくなりますか。How long until I feel better?
Scene — the exam couch
The clinic window looks onto the Yanaka lane. Leo sits on the high exam couch in a white room, messenger bag at his feet.
Dr. Ishida waits with a pen and a blank chart. Next door, the pharmacy's door is shut against the rain.
Learn — fever, cough, and how long
These six lines name a fever and a cough, say how long, and say if it is mild or worse.
One question asks how long until you feel better.
熱があると思います。
I think I have a fever.
When to use it: Use this when you feel hot but you are not sure.
と before 思います marks what you think.
咳が出ます。
I have a cough.
When to use it: Use this to tell a doctor you have a cough.
が shows the cough as what happens.
三日前からです。
It started three days ago.
When to use it: Use this to say a symptom started three days ago.
から marks the starting point of the trouble.
だんだん悪くなっています。
It's getting worse.
When to use it: Use this when a symptom is slowly getting worse.
なっています shows a change that is still going on.
Say it: Hold the small っ in なって.
軽いですが、よくなりません。
It's mild, but it isn't getting better.
When to use it: Use this when it is mild, but it will not improve.
が after です means but in this line.
どのくらいでよくなりますか。
How long until I feel better?
When to use it: Ask this when you want a recovery time from the doctor.
で after くらい asks how much time until then.
Story — three days and worse
Dr. Ishida asks how long the cold has lasted. Leo answers, then apologises as if a fever were rude.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Rain ticks on the clinic window. Leo sits on the high couch.
Dr. Ishidaどうしましたか。What's wrong?
Leo熱があると思います。I think I have a fever.- Dr. Ishidaほかにありますか。Anything else?
- Leo咳が出ます。I have a cough.
- Dr. Ishidaいつからですか。Since when?
- Leo三日前からです。It started three days ago.
- Leoだんだん悪くなっています。It's getting worse.
- Leo bows too deep, as if a cold were rude.
- Leoすみません。Sorry.
- Ishida only writes. He does not look up.
- Leo軽いですが、よくなりません。It's mild, but it isn't getting better.
- Leoどのくらいでよくなりますか。How long until I feel better?
- Dr. Ishida二、三日です。Two or three days.
Practice — pick the right symptom
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and catch a mistake.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
What do you say?
What do you say?
Dr. Ishida looks up from the chart. You feel hot, but you are not sure.
Pick the reply
Dr. Ishida says:
Pick the reply
咳が出ますか。
Do you have a cough?
And you reply with:
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I think I have a fever.
熱がある____思います。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
だんだん悪くなっています。
Build the line
Build the line
How long until I feel better?
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
Tell the doctor it is still getting worse.
だんだん悪く____。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Put the chat in order
- Dr. IshidaWhat comes first?
- Leo…
- Dr. Ishida…
- Leo…
What do you say?
What do you say?
You told him it is getting worse, and you bow as if a cold were rude.
Say it — tell the doctor
You are Leo on the exam couch. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.
- Dr. Ishidaどうしましたか。What's wrong?
- Leo (you)Tell him you think you have a fever.
Tell him you think you have a fever.
熱があると思います。
I think I have a fever.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 熱があると思います。 | I think I have a fever. | |
| 咳が出ます。 | I have a cough. | |
| 三日前からです。 | It started three days ago. | |
| だんだん悪くなっています。 | It's getting worse. | |
| 軽いですが、よくなりません。 | It's mild, but it isn't getting better. | |
| どのくらいでよくなりますか。 | How long until I feel better? |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these clinic lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round keeps fever and cough ready at the clinic.
Open Yak Cards