Traditional Chinese - Doctor Visit

我 ___ 已經 ___ 天了。

Wǒ ___ yǐjīng ___ tiān le.

I've been having ___ for ___ days.

Meaning: 我 ___ 已經 ___ 天了。 (Wǒ ___ yǐjīng ___ tiān le.) = “I’ve been having ___ for ___ days.”

When to use: Use this to tell a doctor your main symptom and how many days it has lasted. Put a symptom like 發燒 (fāshāo), 咳嗽 (késòu), or 頭痛 (tóutòng) in the first blank, and a number of days in the second blank.

Tip: Don’t put the number of days before 已經 (yǐjīng) in this frame. Say 我咳嗽已經三天了 (Wǒ késòu yǐjīng sān tiān le).

是 ___ 前開始的。

shì ___ qián kāishǐ de.

It started ___ ago.

Meaning: 是 ___ 前開始的。 (shì ___ qián kāishǐ de.) = “It started ___ ago.”

When to use: Use this when the doctor asks when the symptom began. Put a time expression like 三天 (sān tiān) or 一個禮拜 (yí ge lǐbài) in the blank.

我 ___ 會痛

wǒ ___ huì tòng.

The pain is in my ___.

Meaning: 我 ___ 會痛。 (wǒ ___ huì tòng.) = “The pain is in my ___.”

When to use: Use this to point out where it hurts. Put a body part like 頭 (tóu), 胃 (wèi), or 膝蓋 (xīgài) in the blank.

Tip: In this pattern, don’t add 的 (de) after 我 (wǒ). Say 我胃會痛 (Wǒ wèi huì tòng), not 我的胃會痛 for this chunk.

症狀不嚴重，但一直沒有好。

zhèngzhuàng bù yánzhòng, dàn yìzhí méiyǒu hǎo.

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

Meaning: 症狀不嚴重，但一直沒有好。 (Zhèngzhuàng bù yánzhòng, dàn yìzhí méiyǒu hǎo.) = “It’s mild, but it doesn’t go away.”

When to use: Use this when the symptom is not intense, but it has continued for a while and you’re concerned.

越來越嚴重了

yuè lái yuè yánzhòng le.

It's getting worse.

Meaning: 越來越嚴重了。 (Yuè lái yuè yánzhòng le.) = “It’s getting worse.”

When to use: Use this for pain, a symptom, or your overall condition when it is worsening over time.

我覺得我好像發燒了。

wǒ juéde wǒ hǎoxiàng fāshāo le.

I think I have a fever.

Meaning: 我覺得我好像發燒了。 (Wǒ juéde wǒ hǎoxiàng fāshāo le.) = “I think I have a fever.”

When to use: Use this when you suspect you have a fever. 好像 (hǎoxiàng) makes it sound like you’re reporting what you think, not claiming certainty.

請問這個藥多久吃一次？

qǐngwèn zhège yào duōjiǔ chī yí cì?

How often should I take this medicine?

Meaning: 請問這個藥多久吃一次？ (Qǐngwèn zhège yào duōjiǔ chī yí cì?) = “How often should I take this medicine?”

When to use: Use this polite question when you receive medicine and want to confirm how often to take it.

Tip: 藥 (yào) is “medicine,” and 吃藥 (chī yào) literally uses “eat,” but it means “take medicine.”

大概要多久才會好一點？

dàgài yào duōjiǔ cái huì hǎo yìdiǎn?

How long will it take to feel better?

Meaning: 大概要多久才會好一點？ (Dàgài yào duōjiǔ cái huì hǎo yìdiǎn?) = “How long will it take to feel better?”

When to use: Use this to ask a doctor about expected recovery time or when symptoms should improve.

我對 ___ 過敏。

wǒ duì ___ guòmǐn.

I'm allergic to ___.

Meaning: 我對 ___ 過敏。 (Wǒ duì ___ guòmǐn.) = “I’m allergic to ___.”

When to use: Use this to tell the doctor about an allergy to medicine, food, or another substance.

Tip: Use 對 (duì) before the thing you are allergic to: 我對海鮮過敏 (Wǒ duì hǎixiān guòmǐn).

這會不會很嚴重？

zhè huì bú huì hěn yánzhòng?

Is it something serious?

Meaning: 這會不會很嚴重？ (Zhè huì bú huì hěn yánzhòng?) = “Is it something serious?”

When to use: Use this direct, natural question when you want to know whether a symptom or condition is serious.

我___的時候會痛。

Wǒ ___ de shíhòu huì tòng.

It hurts when I ___ .

Meaning: 我___的時候會痛。 (Wǒ ___ de shíhòu huì tòng.) = “It hurts when I ___.”

When to use: Use this to describe an action that triggers pain. Put an action like 走路 (zǒulù), 吞口水 (tūn kǒushuǐ), or 彎腰 (wānyāo) in the blank.

我___的時候會覺得___。

Wǒ ___ de shíhòu huì juéde ___.

I feel ___ when I ___ .

Meaning: 我___的時候會覺得___。 (Wǒ ___ de shíhòu huì juéde ___.) = “I feel ___ when I ___.”

When to use: Use this to describe a physical reaction in a situation. In Chinese, it sounds natural to say the situation first, then the feeling.

疼痛會一陣一陣的。

Téngtòng huì yīzhèn-yīzhèn de.

The pain comes and goes.

Meaning: 疼痛會一陣一陣的。 (Téngtòng huì yīzhèn-yīzhèn de.) = “The pain comes and goes.”

When to use: Use this to describe pain that is not constant. It appears in waves or from time to time.