Medical & Emergency Chinese — Hospital, Pharmacy & First Aid

Body Parts (身体部位)

Describing your symptoms clearly is critical. The pattern is straightforward: body part + 疼 (téng, hurts) — for example, 头疼 (tóuténg, headache) or 肚子疼 (dùzi téng, stomachache). For other symptoms, learn the specific word.

Chinese hospitals work differently from Western ones. You must first 挂号 (guàhào, register) at the front desk, choose a department, and pay a small registration fee before seeing a doctor. This process applies to both outpatient visits and emergencies — though 急诊 (jízhěn, emergency) registration is faster.

Pharmacies (药房 yàofáng or 药店 yàodiàn) are found on almost every street in Chinese cities. Many common medicines are available over the counter without a prescription. Pharmacists are often knowledgeable and can recommend treatments for minor conditions.

These 14 phrases cover the most common medical situations — from describing symptoms to asking for help. Save these on your phone for quick reference.

Medical Chinese uses simple, repeatable patterns. Master these three structures and you can describe almost any symptom.

Healthcare in China — 6 Things to Know

1. Hospitals require registration (挂号 guàhào) before you see a doctor. Go to the 挂号处 (guàhào chù, registration desk) first, choose a department, and pay a small fee (usually 5-50 RMB). For foreigners, larger hospitals often have an international department (国际部 guójì bù) with English-speaking staff.
2. Chinese hospitals are busy. Public hospitals serve enormous numbers of patients daily. Expect queues. Arrive early — especially for specialist appointments. Private hospitals and international clinics are less crowded but significantly more expensive.
3. Traditional Chinese Medicine (中医 zhōngyī) is mainstream. TCM is practised alongside Western medicine (西医 xīyī) in most Chinese hospitals. TCM treatments include herbal medicine (中药 zhōngyào), acupuncture (针灸 zhēnjiǔ), cupping (拔罐 báguàn), and massage (推拿 tuīná). Many Chinese people use both systems depending on the condition.
4. Emergency number is 120 (ambulance). Police is 110, fire is 119. In major cities, some 120 operators speak basic English. Alternatively, go directly to the 急诊 (jízhěn, emergency department) of the nearest hospital — this is often faster than waiting for an ambulance.
5. Bring cash and your passport. While WeChat Pay works at larger hospitals, some departments or pharmacies may require cash. Your passport is needed for registration. If you have travel insurance, bring the policy documents — many international departments can process insurance claims directly.
6. Pharmacies are on every street. Look for the green cross sign or the characters 药房 or 药店. Pharmacists can recommend over-the-counter treatments for common conditions. Antibiotics technically require a prescription, but enforcement varies. Always check expiry dates and dosage instructions — ask the pharmacist to write it down if needed.

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