Health & Hospital

1. 我唔舒服，要睇醫生。

   ngo5 m4 syu1 fuk6, jiu3 tai2 ji1 sang1.

   I feel unwell and need to see a doctor.

   Usage

   Used to express feeling ill and needing medical attention

   Grammar Note

   tai2 (睇) means "to look/see" in Cantonese, equivalent to Mandarin kàn (看)

2. 醫院喺邊度？

   ji1 jyun2 hai2 bin1 dou6?

   Where is the hospital?

   Usage

   Used to ask the location of a hospital

   Grammar Note

   bin1 dou6 (邊度) is the Cantonese locative interrogative meaning "where"

3. 我頭痛。

   ngo5 tau4 tung3.

   I have a headache.

   Usage

   Used to report a headache

   Grammar Note

   Many medical terms share characters between Cantonese and Mandarin but have different pronunciations

4. 我對呢隻藥過敏。

   ngo5 deoi3 ni1 zek3 joek6 gwo3 man5.

   I am allergic to this medicine.

   Usage

   Used to inform a doctor about a drug allergy

   Grammar Note

   jek (隻) is a Cantonese classifier used for animals, objects, and items like medicine

5. 請叫救護車！

   cing2 giu3 gau3 wu6 ce1!

   Please call an ambulance!

   Usage

   Used in an emergency to call for an ambulance

   Grammar Note

   cing2 (請) is a polite adverbial marker meaning "please" (somewhat formal or written; in speech "唔該" is also used)

6. 我發燒，有幾多度？

   ngo5 faat3 siu1, jau5 gei2 do1 dou6?

   I have a fever. What temperature is it?

   Usage

   Used to report fever and ask for the temperature reading

   Grammar Note

   "有幾多度 (jau5 gei2 do1 dou6)" asks "how many degrees is it?". "幾多 (gei2 do1)" is the Cantonese "how many/much" and also works for asking a temperature

7. 我肚痛。

   ngo5 tou5 tung3.

   I have a stomachache.

   Usage

   Used to report stomach pain

   Grammar Note

   tou5 (肚) means "stomach/belly" in Cantonese, equivalent to Mandarin dùzi (肚子)

8. 呢隻藥係點食嘅？

   ni1 zek3 joek6 hai6 dim2 sik6 ge3?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Used to ask how to take a medication

   Grammar Note

   dim2 (點) is the Cantonese interrogative adverb for "how"

9. 我需要配眼鏡，呢度有冇眼鏡鋪？

   ngo5 seoi1 jiu3 pui3 ngaan5 geng3, ni1 dou6 jau5 mou5 ngaan5 geng3 pou3?

   I need glasses. Is there an optician nearby?

   Usage

   Used when needing to find an optician

   Grammar Note

   pou3 (鋪) means "shop/store" in Cantonese and is used to name various types of stores

10. 我係糖尿病患者，需要胰島素。

    ngo5 hai6 tong4 niu6 beng6 waan6 ze2, seoi1 jiu3 ji4 dou2 sou3.

    I am a diabetic patient and need insulin.

    Usage

    Used to inform medical staff of diabetes and request insulin

    Grammar Note

    waan6 ze2 (患者) means "patient" and shares characters with Mandarin huànzhě

11. 懷孕

    waai4 jan6

    Pregnant

    Usage

    Show before any exam — it changes what medicine, X-rays, or anesthesia are safe

12. 哮喘

    haau1 cyun2

    Asthma

    Usage

    Declare it up front as a chronic condition; during an attack, show it with your inhaler

13. 糖尿病

    tong4 niu6 beng6

    Diabetes

    Usage

    Needed when explaining dietary limits or insulin

14. 高血壓

    gou1 hyut3 aat3

    High blood pressure

    Usage

    Affects what can be prescribed — show it at the pharmacy too

15. 心臟病

    sam1 zong6 beng6

    Heart disease

    Usage

    A condition to declare before emergency treatment or anesthesia

16. 癲癇症

    din1 haan4 zing3

    Epilepsy

    Usage

    Explains the condition to anyone who witnesses a seizure

17. 醫療保險

    ji1 liu4 bou2 him2

    Medical insurance

    Usage

    Show it at reception when asked whether you are insured

18. 骨折

    gwat1 zit3

    Fracture

    Usage

    Use it to say you may need an X-ray

19. 呼吸困難

    fu1 kap1 kwan3 naan4

    Difficulty breathing

    Usage

    Point at it when talking is hard — it signals an urgent symptom

20. 頭暈

    tau4 wan4

    Dizzy

    Usage

    For when you feel faint or unsteady on your feet

21. 流血

    lau4 hyut3

    Bleeding

    Usage

    Hongkongers say "lau4 hyut3"; show it while pointing at where you are bleeding

22. 燙傷

    tong3 soeng1

    Burn (scald)

    Usage

    For a burn from hot water, steam, or oil

23. 傷口

    soeng1 hau2

    Wound

    Usage

    Point at the cut itself when asking for treatment

24. 耳仔

    ji5 zai2

    Ear

    Usage

    HK Cantonese says "ji5 zai2", not the Mandarin "ěrduo"; show it while pointing at the sore spot

25. 頸

    geng2

    Neck

    Usage

    Cantonese uses "geng2", not the Mandarin "bózi"

26. 膊頭

    bok3 tau4

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Cantonese uses "bok3 tau4", not the Mandarin "jiānbǎng"

27. 膝頭

    sat1 tau4

    Knee

    Usage

    For a knee hurt in a fall or twist; colloquially also "sat1 tau4 go1"

28. 手指

    sau2 zi2

    Finger

    Usage

    For a cut or jammed finger

29. 皮膚

    pei4 fu1

    Skin

    Usage

    For describing a skin problem or looking for a topical treatment

30. 手臂

    sau2 bei3

    Arm

    Usage

    Cantonese uses "sau2 bei3", not the Mandarin "gēbo"

31. 鼻

    bei6

    Nose

    Usage

    For a nosebleed or blocked nose; colloquially also "bei6 go1"

32. 咳

    kat1

    Cough

    Usage

    Cantonese uses the single character "kat1", not the Mandarin "késou"

33. 痕

    han4

    Itchy

    Usage

    Cantonese for itchy is "han4" — the Mandarin "yǎng" is not used here

34. 紅疹

    hung4 can2

    Rash

    Usage

    Show it along with the rash itself, e.g. from an allergy or insect bites

35. 便秘

    bin6 bei3

    Constipation

    Usage

    Show it at the pharmacy when asking for a laxative

36. 月經

    jyut6 ging1

    Period (menstruation)

    Usage

    The term for a clinic or pharmacy; casually Hongkongers say "M dou3", but this is the medical word

37. 血型

    hyut3 jing4

    Blood type

    Usage

    Asked before a transfusion or surgery; show your own type ("A型", "B型", "O型", "AB型") after it

38. 醫生紙

    ji1 sang1 zi2

    Medical certificate

    Usage

    The note a doctor writes for a patient stating the illness and days off; officially "醫生證明書", and "病假紙" when used for sick leave

39. 入院

    jap6 jyun2

    Hospital admission

    Usage

    Going into hospital for treatment because of illness; discharge is "出院"

40. 打冷震

    daa2 laang5 zan3

    Chills

    Usage

    The body shivering involuntarily from cold or fever. Note that 發冷 can also mean malaria.

41. 感冒

    gam2 mou6

    Common cold

    Usage

    The ordinary viral cold; "傷風" refers to the same illness

42. 唔該叫醫生

    m4 goi1 giu3 ji1 sang1

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Ask people nearby to fetch a doctor when someone is taken ill

    Grammar Note

    Same "唔該叫…" frame as "唔該叫救護車" (please call an ambulance), with "醫生" as what is summoned.

43. 我攰喇，冇晒力氣

    ngo5 gui6 laa3, mou5 saai3 lik6 hei3

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Tell a doctor that you have no strength, from fever or exhaustion

    Grammar Note

    Same "我攰喇，…" frame as "我攰喇，休息一陣先。" (I'm tired, let me rest a while), with the second clause replaced by "冇晒力氣". "晒" is the Cantonese complement meaning "completely".

44. 我使唔使靜養？

    ngo5 sai2 m4 sai2 zing6 joeng5?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Ask the doctor after an examination whether you need to rest

    Grammar Note

    Same "使唔使…" frame as "使唔使匙羹？" (do you need a spoon?), with "靜養" filled in. "使唔使" is the Cantonese way of asking whether something is needed, equivalent to Mandarin "需不需要".

45. 肚屙

    tou5 o1

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    Report diarrhea. Colloquial Cantonese; the written form is also "肚瀉"

46. 屎

    si2

    Poop

    Usage

    The everyday word for stool, fine with children or at the clinic. The formal medical word is "大便". "屎" can also be an insult, so never aim it at a person

47. 尿

    niu6

    Pee

    Usage

    The everyday word for urine, fine with children or at the clinic. Also a verb: "屙尿" (o1 niu6) means to urinate

48. 我肚屙

    ngo5 tou5 o1

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea

    Grammar Note

    "肚屙" works as a verb (肚 = belly, 屙 = to excrete), so putting "我" in front is enough to say "I have diarrhea"

49. 我便秘

    ngo5 bin6 bei3

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated

    Grammar Note

    "便秘" can serve directly as the predicate, like a verb. This is the word card "便秘" from the same file turned into a sentence by adding "我"

50. 我想屙尿

    ngo5 soeng2 o1 niu6

    I need to pee

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need to pee

    Grammar Note

    "我想 + verb" means "I want to ...". "屙尿" is 屙 (to excrete) + 尿 (urine), the verb phrase for peeing

51. 我想屙屎

    ngo5 soeng2 o1 si2

    I need to poop

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need to poop

    Grammar Note

    "我想 + verb" means "I want to ...". "屙屎" is 屙 (to excrete) + 屎 (stool), the verb phrase for pooping; same frame as "我想屙尿"

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