Essential Japanese Medical Phrases for Hospital Visits (2026)

Language barriers in a medical setting are more than inconvenient — they can affect the quality of care you receive. While English-speaking clinics exist across Japan, you may not always have access to one, particularly in rural areas or after hours.

This guide gives you the essential Japanese phrases for every stage of a hospital or clinic visit: reception, describing your symptoms, talking to the doctor, visiting the pharmacy, and handling emergencies. Each phrase includes pronunciation and, where relevant, the Japanese script you can show to a staff member.

Note: While these phrases are genuinely useful, the most reliable way to communicate in a Japanese hospital is to visit an English-speaking clinic. Search for English-capable hospitals near you before your trip and bookmark the results — it takes two minutes and can save enormous stress.

Part 1: At the Reception Desk (受付 / Uketsuke)

The reception desk is your first point of contact. Most hospitals require you to fill in a patient questionnaire (*mondouhyou* / 問診票) and present identification.

Basic Registration Phrases

Useful Phrases for Showing Staff

If speaking is too difficult, you can show these written phrases on your phone:

> 英語を話せるスタッフを呼んでいただけますか？

> *Eigo o hanaseru sutaffu o yonde itadakemasu ka?*

> "Could you please call an English-speaking staff member?"

> 翻訳アプリを使って話しても良いですか？

> *Honyaku apuri o tsukatte hanashite mo ii desu ka?*

> "May I use a translation app to communicate?"

> 私の症状を書いた紙があります。

> *Watashi no shoujou o kaita kami ga arimasu.*

> "I have a piece of paper describing my symptoms."

Part 2: Describing Symptoms (症状の説明 / Shoujou no Setsumei)

Describing pain and symptoms accurately is the most important communication skill in a medical setting. The phrases below cover the most common situations.

Core Symptom Phrases

Time Expressions for Symptoms

Pain Scale

Japanese doctors often use a numerical pain scale (0-10). You may be asked:

> 「痛みは10段階で言うといくつですか？」

> *"On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the pain?"*

Simply hold up the appropriate number of fingers or say the number: *ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, nana, hachi, ku, juu* (1-10).

Part 3: Symptoms by Body Part (部位別症状 / Bui-betsu Shoujou)

Point to the area on your body while using the phrases below.

Head and Face (頭・顔)