Lesson 15: Hospital & Symptoms (病気)
I have a fever and a sore throat
This lesson focuses on medical situations in Japanese. You'll learn how to describe symptoms at a hospital, understand doctor's instructions, fill out medical forms, and comprehend medicine usage and precautions.
Key topics:
- ・Describing common symptoms like fever, sore throat, cough, etc.
- ・Understanding and responding to doctor's questions and instructions
- ・Filling out medical medical forms (問診票)
- ・Understanding medicine types, usage, and precautions
- ・Reading medicine instruction labels
- ・Navigating Japanese hospitals and healthcare systems
- ・Discussing allergies and specific conditions like hay fever
Vocabulary
Conversation
Kanji
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: Explaining symptoms to a doctor
This expression explains the situation to the other person. It is used to describe symptoms to the doctor at the hospital. The form becomes ~なんです when connecting to nouns and ナ-adjectives.
| Type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | N + なんです | かぜ なん です |
| ナA | ナA + なんです | たいへん なん です |
| イA | イA + んです | のど が いたい ん です |
| Verb dict | V-る + んです | はきけ が する ん です |
| Verb dict | V-る + んです | ねつ が ある ん です |
| Verb dict | V-る + んです | せき が つづく ん です |
| Verb ta | V-た + んです | 足 を くじいた ん です |
| Verb ta | V-た + んです | あたま を ぶつけた ん です |
| Verb nai | V-ない + んです | せき が とまらない ん です |
Rule 2: Instructing someone not to do something
This expression instructs or requests someone not to do something. It is used by the doctor to instruct the patient about what should not be done. It connects to the ナイ-form of the verb.
| Dictionary Form | Nai Form | Request Form |
|---|---|---|
| 会う | 会わない | 会わない で ください |
| 入る | 入らない | 入らない で ください |
| 食べる | 食べない | 食べない で ください |
| する | しない | しない で ください |
Rule 3: Modifying nouns with plain-form verbs
This expression explains by modifying the noun. It is used to explain the efficacy of the medicine. The plain-form of the modifying verb connects to the noun, and the dictionary-form is used here.
| Dictionary Form | Nounphrase |
|---|---|
| おさえる | おさえる くすり |
| さげる | さげる くすり |
| まもる | まもる くすり |
Rule 4: Ordering actions before and after
These expressions indicate the order of actions. 前に connects to the dictionary-form of the verb, while あと connects to the タ-form of the verb. They are used to say when to take medicine or do another action.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| V-る前に | ねる 前に |
| V-たあと | 飲んだ あと |
| V-たあと | 食べた あと |
Rule 5: Saying when to do something
~とき indicates a certain point in time or a situation. It is used to explain when the medicine should be taken for what symptoms. For verbs, it connects to the dictionary-form, タ-form, and ナイ-form. It becomes Nのとき for nouns, ナAなとき for ナ-adjectives, and イAいとき for イ-adjectives.
| Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | N + のとき | かぜ の とき |
| Noun | N + のとき | ふつかよい の とき |
| ナA | ナA + なとき | たいへん な とき |
| イA | イA + いとき | あたま が いたい とき |
| Verb dict | V-るとき | ねつ が ある とき |
| Verb dict | V-るとき | せき が つづく とき |
| Verb ta | V-たとき | 足 を くじいた とき |
| Verb ta | V-たとき | かぜ を ひいた とき |
| Verb nai | V-ないとき | がまん できない とき |
| Verb nai | V-ないとき | せき が とまらない とき |
Exercises
Question 1: 'The thing is, I have a headache.'
あたまが いたい ______.
Question 2: How do you ask 'Why were you late?' using ~んですか?
Question 3: 'The thing is, it's a cold.'
かぜ ______.
Question 4: 'The thing is, it's tough.'
たいへん ______.
Question 5: 'The thing is, the cough won't stop.'
せきが とまらない ______.
Question 6: 'Please don't meet people as much as possible.'
できるだけ ひとに ______ ください.
Question 7: Which is correct for 'Please do not take pictures here.'
Question 8: 'Please don't eat too much spicy food.'
からい ものは あまり ______ ください.
Question 9: 'This is medicine that reduces coughing.'
こちらは せきを ______ くすりです.
Question 10: Which is correct for 'This is medicine for reducing fever.'
Question 11: 'Please take it once daily before bedtime.'
いちにち いっかい、______ まえに のんでください.
Question 12: 'Please take this medicine after meals.'
ごはんを ______ あと、この くすりを のんでください.
Question 13: Which is correct for 'Please do not drive after taking it.'
Question 14: 'Please take this medicine when you have a cold.'
かぜ ______ とき、この くすりを のんでください.
Question 15: 'Please take it when your head hurts.'
あたまが ______ とき、のんでください.
Question 16: 'Please take this medicine when the pain is unbearable.'
いたくて がまん ______ とき、のんでください.