Medical and Pharmacy Chinese — State Symptoms and Ask for Help

These phrases help you communicate essentials. They do not replace a clinician, interpreter or official medical advice.

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
我肚子疼。	Wǒ dùzi téng.	I have stomach pain.
从昨天开始。	Cóng zuótiān kāishǐ.	Since yesterday.
我需要翻译。	Wǒ xūyào fānyì.	I need an interpreter.

Basic dialogue

Receptionist: 请问哪里不舒服？
(Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ bù shūfu?)
Patient: 我肚子疼，从昨天开始。
(Wǒ dùzi téng, cóng zuótiān kāishǐ.)
Receptionist: 您需要翻译吗？
(Nín xūyào fānyì ma?)

At the pharmacy

Patient: 这个药怎么吃？请写下来。
(Zhège yào zěnme chī? Qǐng xiě xiàlai.)
Pharmacist: 好的，一天两次，饭后吃。
(Hǎo de, yì tiān liǎng cì, fànhòu chī.)

Takeaway

• Show allergy and medication information in writing.
• Confirm dosage and instructions with a qualified professional.

Give only the facts you know

Say when the symptom started, where it hurts, and whether you have an allergy or take other medicine. If you do not understand an instruction, ask for it in writing and confirm it with the pharmacist or clinician rather than guessing.

Related: urgent situations for when you cannot wait for an appointment, and supporting older adults for going with someone else.

By the end of this chapter, you can say

我肚子疼。我对这个药过敏。 (Wǒ dùzi téng. Wǒ duì zhège yào guòmǐn.)

Practical note for this chapter

From arrival to transport, meals, housing and getting help when something changes. In this chapter, practice giving a short response and then checking what matters.

Use it in context

A: 请问哪里不舒服？ (Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ bù shūfu?)

B: 我肚子疼。我对这个药过敏。 (Wǒ dùzi téng. Wǒ duì zhège yào guòmǐn.)

▶ Listen to the dialogue▶ Listen slowlyStop● Record my voiceStop

Phrase map for this chapter

Question or situation

请问哪里不舒服？ (Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ bù shūfu?)

Central response

我肚子疼。我对这个药过敏。 (Wǒ dùzi téng. Wǒ duì zhège yào guòmǐn.)

Another natural way to say it

我肚子疼，从昨天开始。 (Wǒ dùzi téng, cóng zuótiān kāishǐ.)

Use this variation in a situation you genuinely expect to handle.

How to use it

Listen to the model once, then say it again with one detail from your own situation.

Turn the model into three conversation turns

1. 1. Open the situation请问哪里不舒服？ (Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ bù shūfu?)
2. 2. Say the central response我肚子疼。我对这个药过敏。 (Wǒ dùzi téng. Wǒ duì zhège yào guòmǐn.)
3. 3. Add an alternative我肚子疼，从昨天开始。 (Wǒ dùzi téng, cóng zuótiān kāishǐ.)

Before acting, check the point most likely to cause a misunderstanding. This dialogue is for practice. For important decisions, confirm official guidance as well.

A useful variation

Keep the same purpose, then change the person, time or place to make it your own.

我肚子疼，从昨天开始。 (Wǒ dùzi téng, cóng zuótiān kāishǐ.)

Use this variation in a situation you genuinely expect to handle.

Listen to the model once, then say it again with one detail from your own situation.

A common trap

For important details, do not decide from what you think you heard; check written information when needed.

症状、开始时间和过敏史要分开说清楚。 (Zhèngzhuàng, kāishǐ shíjiān hé guòmǐn shǐ yào fēnkāi shuō qīngchu.)

This dialogue is for practice. For important decisions, confirm official guidance as well.

Three-step practice

1. Open the situation in one short phrase
2. Say the central response
3. Add one detail of your own