New here? This is lesson 112 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
At the clinic in Japanese
Leo has a cold and walks into Dr. Ishida's clinic, a small room across from the pharmacy. He bows too deep at the door, then looks for the desk.
At reception he says it is his first visit, then almost hands over his Suica instead of his insurance card.
You will ask where the desk is, say you are new, talk about the card, check the queue, and ask where to write.
By the end of this lesson
Sign in at a clinic and answer the receptionist.
- 受付はどこですか。Where is reception?
- 初診です。It's my first visit.
- 保険証を持ってきました。I brought my insurance card.
- 保険証を忘れました。I forgot my insurance card.
- 今、何番ですか。What number are they on?
- 問診票はここに書きますか。Do I fill in the form here?
Scene — the clinic door
The clinic sits across the lane from the pharmacy. Leo pushes the glass door, bows too deep, and looks for a desk. A number display ticks on the wall.
Staff wait behind a low counter with a clipboard. Pale walls and a high examination couch sit further in.
Learn — at the reception desk
These six lines get you through the clinic desk. You ask where it is, say it is your first visit, and talk about the card.
Then you check the queue number and ask where to fill in the form.
受付はどこですか。
Where is reception?
When to use it: Ask this when you cannot see the clinic desk.
は marks 受付 as the topic; どこ asks where it is.
初診です。
It's my first visit.
When to use it: Say this at the desk when the clinic has not seen you before.
初診 is the clinic word for a first visit.
Say it: Give ん in しん its own beat.
保険証を持ってきました。
I brought my insurance card.
When to use it: Say this when you have the card with you at the desk.
を marks the card; て plus きました means you brought it.
Say it: The small っ in 持って is a full stop.
保険証を忘れました。
I forgot my insurance card.
When to use it: Use this if the card is not in your bag.
を marks what you forgot; 忘れました is the polite past.
今、何番ですか。
What number are they on?
When to use it: Ask this in the waiting room to check the queue.
何番 asks which number is being called now.
Say it: Give ん in なんばん its own beat.
問診票はここに書きますか。
Do I fill in the form here?
When to use it: Ask this when staff hand you a form at the desk.
に marks the place where you write the form.
Story — a Suica at the desk
Leo finds the desk and says it is his first visit. He almost hands over a Suica instead of his insurance card.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Leo bows too deep at the glass door.
Leoすみません。Excuse me.- Leo受付はどこですか。Where is reception?
- Staffこちらです。It's this way.
- Leo reaches the low counter and bows again.
- Leo初診です。It's my first visit.
- Leo石田先生、お願いします。Dr. Ishida, please.
- Staff保険証はお持ちですか。Do you have your insurance card?
- Leo holds out his Suica. Staff shakes her head.
- Staffそれは保険証じゃないです。That's not an insurance card.
- Leo保険証を忘れました。I forgot my insurance card.
- He opens the other pocket. The insurance card is there.
- Leo保険証を持ってきました。I brought my insurance card.
- Staffおかけください。Please have a seat.
- Leo今、何番ですか。What number are they on?
- Staff今は二番です。They're on number two now.
- Leo問診票はここに書きますか。Do I fill in the form here?
- Staffはい、そこに書いてください。Yes, please fill it in there.
Practice — pick the right desk line
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and pick what to say at the desk.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
True or false?
True or false?
Staff says this to invite you to sit down.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You have never been to this clinic, and you did not book. Staff ask if this is your first time.
Pick the reply
Staff says:
Pick the reply
保険証はお持ちですか。
Do you have your insurance card?
And you reply with:
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I forgot my insurance card.
保険証____忘れました。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
今、何番ですか。
Build the line
Build the line
I brought my insurance card.
。
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are at this neighbourhood clinic and want to see the doctor who works here.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You are inside the clinic and cannot see the desk.
____はどこですか。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
What do you say?
What do you say?
The receptionist is looking at a screen and has not seen you yet.
Say it — your turn at reception
You are Leo at Dr. Ishida's clinic. 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.
- Leo (you)Ask where the desk is.
Ask where the desk is.
受付はどこですか。
Where is reception?
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 受付はどこですか。 | Where is reception? | |
| 初診です。 | It's my first visit. | |
| 保険証を持ってきました。 | I brought my insurance card. | |
| 保険証を忘れました。 | I forgot my insurance card. | |
| 今、何番ですか。 | What number are they on? | |
| 問診票はここに書きますか。 | Do I fill in the form here? |
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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 before a clinic visit keeps the desk lines ready.
Open Yak Cards