Simplified Chinese - Lesson 113 of 156: Doctor Visit

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

这个会传染吗

Zhège huì chuánrǎn ma?

Is it contagious?

Meaning: Is it contagious?

When to use: Ask when you want to know whether an illness can spread to other people.

听说他感冒了，这个会传染吗？

Tīng shuō tā gǎnmào le, zhège huì chuánrǎn ma?

I heard he has a cold—will this be contagious?

宝宝发烧了，医生，这个会传染吗？

Bǎobǎo fāshāo le, yīshēng, zhège huì chuánrǎn ma?

The baby has a fever; doctor, is this contagious?

我___已经___天了。

Wǒ ___ yǐjīng ___ tiān le.

I've been having ___ for ___ days.

Meaning: I've been having ___ for ___ days.

When to use: Use this to tell a doctor how long a main symptom has lasted, e.g. '我发烧已经三天了。'

Tip: Don't swap word order — say 我发烧已经三天了 (not 我已经三天了发烧).

我发烧已经三天了。

Wǒ fāshāo yǐjīng sān tiān le.

I've had a fever for three days.

我咳嗽已经两天了。

Wǒ késòu yǐjīng liǎng tiān le.

I've been coughing for two days.

我___疼

Wǒ ___ téng.

The pain is in my ___.

Meaning: The pain is in my ___.

When to use: Say this to tell the doctor where it hurts, e.g. 我肚子疼。

我肚子疼，特别在右下。

Wǒ dùzi téng, tèbié zài yòu xià.

My stomach hurts, especially in the lower right.

我右腿疼，走路的时候更明显。

Wǒ yòu tuǐ téng, zǒu lù de shíhou gèng míngxiǎn.

My right leg hurts; it's worse when I walk.

不太严重，但一直不好。

Bú tài yánzhòng, dàn yìzhí bù hǎo。

It's mild, but it doesn't go away.

Meaning: It's mild, but it doesn't go away.

When to use: Use this to describe symptoms that aren't severe but persist, such as a lingering cough or sore throat.

嗓子痛，不太严重，但一直不好。

Sǎngzi tòng, bú tài yánzhòng, dàn yìzhí bù hǎo.

My throat hurts; it's not very serious but it hasn't gotten better.

流鼻涕不太严重，但一直不好，已经一周了。

Liú bítì bú tài yánzhòng, dàn yìzhí bù hǎo, yǐjīng yì zhōu le.

The runny nose is mild but keeps going; it's been a week.

越来越严重了

Yuè lái yuè yánzhòng le。

It's getting worse.

Meaning: It's getting worse.

When to use: Report when symptoms are deteriorating, e.g. for worsening pain or fever.

我的头痛越来越严重了。

Wǒ de tóutòng yuè lái yuè yánzhòng le.

My headache is getting worse and worse.

咳嗽这两天越来越严重了。

Késòu zhè liǎng tiān yuè lái yuè yánzhòng le.

The cough has been getting worse these past two days.

我觉得我发烧了。

Wǒ juéde wǒ fāshāo le。

I think I have a fever.

Meaning: I think I have a fever.

When to use: Say this when you feel hot or have other fever symptoms; the doctor may check your temperature.

我觉得我发烧了，能测一下体温吗？

Wǒ juéde wǒ fāshāo le, néng cè yíxià tǐwēn ma?

I think I have a fever; can you check my temperature?

昨晚开始我觉得我发烧了，今天更不舒服。

Zuówǎn kāishǐ wǒ juéde wǒ fāshāo le, jīntiān gèng bù shūfu.

I started feeling feverish last night and feel worse today.

这个药多久吃一次？

Zhège yào duōjiǔ chī yí cì？

How often should I take this medicine?

Meaning: How often should I take this medicine?

When to use: Ask this when you're given a prescription or medication and need dosing frequency.

Tip: Don't forget 一次 — asking 这个药吃多久？ sounds like you mean total course length.

这个药多久吃一次？饭前还是饭后？

Zhège yào duōjiǔ chī yí cì? Fàn qián hái shì fàn hòu?

How often should I take this medicine? Before or after meals?

小孩用这个药，多久吃一次比较安全？

Xiǎohái yòng zhège yào, duōjiǔ chī yí cì bǐjiào ānquán?

For a child, how often is it safe to give this medicine?

多久会好一点

Duōjiǔ huì hǎo yìdiǎn？

How long will it take to feel better?

Meaning: How long will it take to feel better?

When to use: Ask this to get an expected recovery time from the doctor.

如果按时吃药，多久会好一点？

Rúguǒ ànshí chī yào, duōjiǔ huì hǎo yìdiǎn?

If I take the medicine on time, how long until I feel better?

这种伤口拿药之后，多久会好一点？

Zhè zhǒng shāngkǒu ná yào zhīhòu, duōjiǔ huì hǎo yìdiǎn?

After applying medicine to this wound, when will it improve?

我对___过敏。

Wǒ duì ___ guòmǐn。

I'm allergic to ___.

Meaning: I'm allergic to ___.

When to use: Tell medical staff about medicine, food, or substance allergies (e.g. 我对青霉素过敏)。

Tip: Don't confuse 过敏 with 敏感; say 我对X过敏 for true allergies.

我对青霉素过敏，不能用那类抗生素。

Wǒ duì qīngméisù guòmǐn, bù néng yòng nà lèi kàngshēngsù.

I'm allergic to penicillin and can't use that kind of antibiotic.

我对花粉过敏，每年春天都打喷嚏。

Wǒ duì huāfěn guòmǐn, měi nián chūntiān dōu dǎ pēntì.

I'm allergic to pollen; I sneeze every spring.

这严重吗

Zhè yánzhòng ma？

Is it something serious?

Meaning: Is it something serious?

When to use: Ask the doctor this when you want to know how serious a symptom or condition might be.

我头晕，这严重吗？需要做什么检查？

Wǒ tóuyūn, zhè yánzhòng ma? Xūyào zuò shénme jiǎnchá?

I'm dizzy; is this serious? What tests are needed?

发现血液里白细胞升高，这严重吗？

Fāxiàn xuèyè lǐ báixìbāo shēnggāo, zhè yánzhòng ma?

White blood cell count is high— is this serious?

Simplified Chinese - Doctor Visit

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which Chinese sentence asks 'Is it contagious?'

How do you say 'It's getting worse.' in Chinese?

Which sentence says 'I'm allergic to penicillin'?

Which question asks about medicine dosage frequency?

The patient answers 'My stomach hurts.' which directly responds to the question about stomach pain.

The natural answer to 'How many days?' is a duration sentence: 我发烧已经三天了。

Given the dosing on the leaflet, the patient naturally asks how often to take the medicine.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice