In this lesson, we provide a detailed list of medical terminology and common expressions in Mandarin Chinese designed to help you describe various physical ailments and illnesses. The content ranges from everyday symptoms such as coughs, muscle fatigue, and colds to more serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and tumors.
Through practical phrases, real-life situations are illustrated, including household accidents, allergic reactions, and digestive problems. In addition to naming medical conditions, the text provides context on how to seek medical assistance or describe specific sensations such as insomnia and numbness. Overall, the material serves as an essential communication guide for Spanish speakers to express their health needs in a Chinese-speaking environment.
General sensations and underlying discomfort
To express that you aren’t feeling well or that something hurts, it’s essential to master these words:
不舒服 (Bù shūfú): Not feeling well or feeling uncomfortable. It is used to describe a general sense of unease, as in the phrase “lately, she hasn’t been feeling very well.”
痛 (Tòng): Pain. You can use it to describe pain throughout the body or in specific areas such as the head (頭痛 – Tóutòng) or the teeth (牙痛 – Yátòng).
生病 (Shēngbìng): To be sick or to get sick.
癢 (Yǎng): Itching. For example, when your leg itches because of a mosquito bite.
麻 (Má): Numbness or tingling, which is common in very cold weather.
我今天生病了，所以想早点休息。– Wǒ jīntiān shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ xiǎng zǎodiǎn xiūxi.
I’m sick today, so I want to go to bed early.
Symptoms of colds and respiratory problems
Vocabulary related to viral or bacterial infections is essential in everyday life:
感冒 (Gǎnmào): The common cold.
流感 (Liúgǎn): Flu.
發燒 (Fāshāo): Having a fever. This is associated with the act of taking one’s temperature.
咳嗽 (Késou):Coughing.
流鼻涕 (Liú bítì): Having a runny nose.
呼吸困難 (Hūxī kùnnán): Difficulty breathing, which can be exacerbated by air pollution.
病毒 (Bìngdú) y 細菌 (Xìjūn): Viruses and bacteria.
我昨晚开始發燒，今天早上量体温是三十八度。– Wǒ zuówǎn kāishǐ fāshāo, jīntiān zǎoshang liáng tǐwēn shì sānshíbā dù.
Last night I started running a fever; this morning I took my temperature and it was 38 degrees.
Digestive problems
The sources describe various conditions related to the digestive system:
噁心 (Ěxīn) y 吐 (Tù): Nausea and vomiting. These symptoms may occur due to motion sickness while traveling.
拉肚子 (Lādùzi): Diarrhea. A common example is when someone experiences this reaction after drinking milk.
胃痛 (Wèitòng): Stomachache.
消化不良 (Xiāohuà bùliáng): Indigestion, often caused by eating foods that are too fatty.
沒食慾 (Méi shíyù): Loss of appetite.
食物中毒 (Shíwù zhòngdú): Food poisoning.
我昨晚吃了海鲜以后开始拉肚子，现在不敢出门。– Wǒ zuówǎn chī le hǎixiān yǐhòu kāishǐ lādùzi, xiànzài bù gǎn chūmén.
Last night, after eating seafood, I started having diarrhea, and now I don’t dare go out.
Injuries and external physical problems
When an accident occurs or a visible physical reaction takes place:
受傷 (Shòushāng): To be injured.
扭傷 (Niǔshāng): A sprain, such as twisting your ankle when you trip over a rock.
流血 (Liúxuè): Bleeding, for example, if you accidentally cut your hand while cooking.
腫 (Zhǒng): Swelling.
水泡 (Shuǐpào): Blisters, often caused by walking long distances in shoes that don’t fit properly.
曬傷 (Shàishāng): Sunburn.
我跑步的时候不小心扭傷了脚踝，走路很痛。– Wǒ pǎobù de shíhou bù xiǎoxīn niǔshāng le jiǎohuái, zǒulù hěn tòng.
I accidentally twisted my ankle while running, and it really hurts to walk.
Chronic and serious medical conditions
For situations requiring specialized medical care:
心臟病 (Xīnzàng bìng): Heart disease. Excessive consumption of fatty meat may be linked to this condition.
糖尿病 (Tángniàobìng): Diabetes.
高血壓 (Gāo xuèyā): High blood pressure, which often has no obvious symptoms.
過敏 (Guòmǐn): Allergies. It is important to know if you are allergic to any medications.
癌症 (Áizhèng): Cáncer.
我对青霉素过敏，请不要给我这种药。– Wǒ duì qīngméisù guòmǐn, qǐng búyào gěi wǒ zhè zhǒng yào.
I’m allergic to penicillin; please don’t give me this medication.
Useful frameworks for practice
You can use these examples to form key phrases:
1. To ask for help:
我好像生病了, 你能送我去醫院嗎?
I think I’m sick. Can you take me to the hospital?
2. To describe duration:
我已經感冒一個禮拜了
I’ve had a cold for a week
3. To warn about infections:
你離我遠一點, 我不想把感冒傳染給你
Stay a little away from me—I don’t want to give you my cold
Evaluation
Match words