Can I see a doctor if I speak no Japanese at all?

Yes. Download and print the English Multilingual Medical Questionnaire and bring it filled in (see the links above); many large hospitals and some clinics also offer medical interpreting or phone interpretation. At reception, lead with 'Nihongo ga hanasemasen (I can't speak Japanese)' and staff will usually work with you.

What if I'm not sure whether to call an ambulance?

For life-threatening symptoms (severe chest pain, trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding) call 119 directly. When unsure, in areas where it's available you can dial '#7119' to consult a nurse or other professional by phone, who'll help judge whether you need an ambulance (hours and coverage vary by area — see the official link).

What's the difference between 'hokenshō' and 'maina hokenshō'?

Both prove you have public health insurance when you see a doctor. The traditional one is a paper/plastic health insurance card; increasingly people link their insurance to their My Number Card (a 'maina hokenshō') and tap it at a reader in the clinic or pharmacy. Just say which one you're handing over at reception.

Going alone is stressful — can someone come with me?

Yes. You can post an 'accompaniment' request on TokyoHelp, and a nearby neighbour can come with you to the clinic for free and help interpret on the spot. Note: a neighbour helps you communicate but makes no medical judgments for you — always follow the doctor for diagnosis and medication.

Japanese for Seeing a Doctor: Hospital Phrase Cards (Reception, Symptoms, Pharmacy)

Medical visits, broken into scenes — reception, describing symptoms, pointing to body parts, 'how many days', allergies, and the pharmacy. Each line gives the Japanese + reading + English so you can read it aloud.

8 min readChecked against official sources 2026-06-16

At a Japanese clinic, what trips people up usually isn't the illness — it's not knowing how to start. This guide turns the most-used sentences into phrase cards, grouped by scene: each line gives the Japanese + reading (kana/romaji) + English meaning. Reception, describing symptoms, pointing to body parts, saying 'it's been X days', allergies, picking up medicine at the pharmacy — just read them aloud. Save this page so you can open it right at the front desk.

This is general information, not medical advice. Any judgment about your symptoms, medication, or treatment should follow your doctor's instructions. In an emergency (severe chest pain, trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding, etc.), call 119 for an ambulance immediately — when connected, first say 'kyūkyū desu (救急です — ambulance)', then give your address.

Three lines to memorise first

Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai. 救急車を呼んでください。 — Please call an ambulance.
Nihongo ga hanasemasen. 日本語が話せません。 — I can't speak Japanese.
Eigo ga hanaseru hito wa imasu ka? 英語が話せる人はいますか? — Is there anyone who speaks English?

Scene 1 — Reception (uketsuke / 受付)

Go to the 'uketsuke (受付 — reception)' first. A clinic you're visiting for the first time usually takes walk-ins. Read these to the front desk:

1Yoyaku shite imasen. 予約していません。 — I don't have an appointment.
2Hajimete desu. 初めてです。 — It's my first time here (first visit).
3Hokenshō desu. 保険証です。 — Here's my health insurance card. (If you've linked insurance to your My Number Card — a 'maina hokenshō' — you can instead say 'maina hokenshō desu' as you hand it over.)
4Shinsatsu o onegai shimasu. 診察をお願いします。 — I'd like to see the doctor.
5Monshinhyō wa arimasu ka? 問診票はありますか? — Do you have a medical questionnaire? (the symptom form)

Many clinics have a foreign-language 'monshinhyō (問診票 — medical questionnaire)'. The Kanagawa International Foundation's Multilingual Medical Questionnaire is sorted by department and offered in 20+ languages — you can download and print it in advance and bring it filled in. See the official links below.

Scene 2 — Describing symptoms (shōjō / 症状)

The doctor will most often ask 'dō shimashita ka? (どうしましたか? — what's wrong?)'. Learn one all-purpose pattern first: '〇〇 ga itai desu (〇〇が痛いです — my 〇〇 hurts)', and just slot in the body part.

Netsu ga arimasu. 熱があります。 — I have a fever. (add a number: sanjū-hachi-do desu / 38度です — 38°C)
Seki ga demasu. 咳が出ます。 — I have a cough.
Hanamizu ga demasu. 鼻水が出ます。 — I have a runny nose.
Nodo ga itai desu. 喉が痛いです。 — My throat hurts.
Atama ga itai desu. 頭が痛いです。 — I have a headache.
Onaka ga itai desu. お腹が痛いです。 — My stomach hurts.
Kimochi ga warui desu. 気持ちが悪いです。 — I feel nauseous.
Hakimashita. 吐きました。 — I threw up.
Geri o shite imasu. 下痢をしています。 — I have diarrhoea.
Memai ga shimasu. めまいがします。 — I feel dizzy.
Darui desu. だるいです。 — I feel run-down / exhausted.

Words for the type of pain help a lot: zukizuki (throbbing), chikuchiku (prickling/stabbing), hirihiri (burning/stinging). e.g. 'Koko ga zukizuki itai desu (ここがズキズキ痛いです — it throbs right here).'

Scene 3 — Pointing to body parts (karada no bui / 体の部位)

When words fail, point — and add 'koko ga itai desu (ここが痛いです — it hurts here)'. Common parts:

atama 頭 — head
me 目 — eye ・ mimi 耳 — ear ・ hana 鼻 — nose
nodo 喉 — throat ・ ha 歯 — tooth
kubi 首 — neck ・ kata 肩 — shoulder
mune 胸 — chest ・ senaka 背中 — back
onaka お腹 — stomach/belly ・ koshi 腰 — lower back
ude 腕 — arm ・ te 手 — hand ・ yubi 指 — finger
ashi 足 — leg/foot ・ hiza 膝 — knee

Scene 4 — Saying 'it's been X days' (duration)

The doctor often follows up with 'itsu kara desu ka? (いつからですか? — since when?)'. Answer with '〜 kara (〜から — since…)' or '〜 nichi mae kara (〜日前から — since X days ago)'.

Kinō kara desu. 昨日からです。 — Since yesterday.
Mikka mae kara desu. 3日前からです。 — Since three days ago.
Isshūkan kurai desu. 1週間くらいです。 — About a week.
Dandan waruku natte imasu. だんだん悪くなっています。 — It's getting worse.
Ima wa sukoshi yoku narimashita. 今は少し良くなりました。 — It's a bit better now.

Scene 5 — Allergies & history (arerugī / アレルギー)

Allergy information is critical to medication safety — be sure to state it clearly. If you're allergic to a drug, mention it at both the visit and the pharmacy; it helps to have the drug name written on paper or your phone to show the doctor.

Kusuri no arerugī ga arimasu. 薬のアレルギーがあります。 — I have a drug allergy.
Penishirin ni arerugī ga arimasu. ペニシリンにアレルギーがあります。 — I'm allergic to penicillin.
Shokumotsu arerugī ga arimasu. 食物アレルギーがあります。 — I have a food allergy.
Ninshin shite imasu. 妊娠しています。 — I'm pregnant.
Ima, nonde iru kusuri ga arimasu. 今、飲んでいる薬があります。 — I'm currently taking medication.
Jibyō ga arimasu. 持病があります。 — I have a chronic / pre-existing condition.

Scene 6 — At the pharmacy (yakkyoku / 薬局)

After the visit, the doctor writes a 'shohōsen (処方箋 — prescription)'. You take it to a 'yakkyoku (薬局 — pharmacy)' to get your medicine. Handy lines:

1Shohōsen o onegai shimasu. 処方箋をお願いします。 — (handing over the prescription) I'd like to fill this, please.
2Kono kusuri wa itsu nomimasu ka? この薬はいつ飲みますか? — When do I take this medicine?
3Shokugo desu ka, shokuzen desu ka? 食後ですか、食前ですか? — After meals or before meals? (shokugo = after meals, shokuzen = before, shokkan = between meals)
4Ichinichi ni nankai nomimasu ka? 1日に何回飲みますか? — How many times a day?
5Nemuku narimasu ka? 眠くなりますか? — Will it make me drowsy?
6Shihan'yaku wa arimasu ka? 市販薬はありますか? — (with no prescription) Do you have an over-the-counter option?

Tip: your first time at a pharmacy, they'll set up an 'okusuri techō (お薬手帳 — medication record book)'. It logs the drugs you've taken; bring it to future visits and pharmacies so doctors can avoid prescribing duplicate or conflicting medicines.

Drill these until they come out automatically

Most medical sentences are fixed phrases — the trick is reacting when you hear them and producing them on the spot. This kind of high-frequency medical dialogue is ideal to drill on a listen-and-speak Japanese app during your commute or while waiting in line, so questions like 'dō shimashita ka / itsu kara desu ka / shokugo ni nonde kudasai' feel familiar before you ever reach the clinic. Nihongo Ride — featured here on our site — is exactly that kind of listen-along Japanese conversation app, and works well for drilling this 'hospital/pharmacy' set.

Need your insurance card to see a doctor? Start with NHI

National Health Insurance: who enrols, premiums, and how much you pay at the clinic

Official & authoritative links

Can I see a doctor if I speak no Japanese at all?: Yes. Download and print the English Multilingual Medical Questionnaire and bring it filled in (see the links above); many large hospitals and some clinics also offer medical interpreting or phone interpretation. At reception, lead with 'Nihongo ga hanasemasen (I can't speak Japanese)' and staff will usually work with you.
What if I'm not sure whether to call an ambulance?: For life-threatening symptoms (severe chest pain, trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding) call 119 directly. When unsure, in areas where it's available you can dial '#7119' to consult a nurse or other professional by phone, who'll help judge whether you need an ambulance (hours and coverage vary by area — see the official link).
What's the difference between 'hokenshō' and 'maina hokenshō'?: Both prove you have public health insurance when you see a doctor. The traditional one is a paper/plastic health insurance card; increasingly people link their insurance to their My Number Card (a 'maina hokenshō') and tap it at a reader in the clinic or pharmacy. Just say which one you're handing over at reception.
Going alone is stressful — can someone come with me?: Yes. You can post an 'accompaniment' request on TokyoHelp, and a nearby neighbour can come with you to the clinic for free and help interpret on the spot. Note: a neighbour helps you communicate but makes no medical judgments for you — always follow the doctor for diagnosis and medication.

If going to the hospital alone feels overwhelming, you don't have to tough it out. Post an 'accompaniment' request on TokyoHelp and a nearby Japanese-speaking neighbour can come with you to the clinic and interpret on the spot for free — you just focus on getting better.

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Japanese for Seeing a Doctor: Hospital Phrase Cards (Reception, Symptoms, Pharmacy)

8 min readChecked against official sources 2026-06-16

Three lines to memorise first

Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai. 救急車を呼んでください。 — Please call an ambulance.
Nihongo ga hanasemasen. 日本語が話せません。 — I can't speak Japanese.
Eigo ga hanaseru hito wa imasu ka? 英語が話せる人はいますか? — Is there anyone who speaks English?

Scene 1 — Reception (uketsuke / 受付)

Go to the 'uketsuke (受付 — reception)' first. A clinic you're visiting for the first time usually takes walk-ins. Read these to the front desk:

1Yoyaku shite imasen. 予約していません。 — I don't have an appointment.
2Hajimete desu. 初めてです。 — It's my first time here (first visit).
3Hokenshō desu. 保険証です。 — Here's my health insurance card. (If you've linked insurance to your My Number Card — a 'maina hokenshō' — you can instead say 'maina hokenshō desu' as you hand it over.)
4Shinsatsu o onegai shimasu. 診察をお願いします。 — I'd like to see the doctor.
5Monshinhyō wa arimasu ka? 問診票はありますか? — Do you have a medical questionnaire? (the symptom form)

Scene 2 — Describing symptoms (shōjō / 症状)

Netsu ga arimasu. 熱があります。 — I have a fever. (add a number: sanjū-hachi-do desu / 38度です — 38°C)
Seki ga demasu. 咳が出ます。 — I have a cough.
Hanamizu ga demasu. 鼻水が出ます。 — I have a runny nose.
Nodo ga itai desu. 喉が痛いです。 — My throat hurts.
Atama ga itai desu. 頭が痛いです。 — I have a headache.
Onaka ga itai desu. お腹が痛いです。 — My stomach hurts.
Kimochi ga warui desu. 気持ちが悪いです。 — I feel nauseous.
Hakimashita. 吐きました。 — I threw up.
Geri o shite imasu. 下痢をしています。 — I have diarrhoea.
Memai ga shimasu. めまいがします。 — I feel dizzy.
Darui desu. だるいです。 — I feel run-down / exhausted.

Scene 3 — Pointing to body parts (karada no bui / 体の部位)

When words fail, point — and add 'koko ga itai desu (ここが痛いです — it hurts here)'. Common parts:

atama 頭 — head
me 目 — eye ・ mimi 耳 — ear ・ hana 鼻 — nose
nodo 喉 — throat ・ ha 歯 — tooth
kubi 首 — neck ・ kata 肩 — shoulder
mune 胸 — chest ・ senaka 背中 — back
onaka お腹 — stomach/belly ・ koshi 腰 — lower back
ude 腕 — arm ・ te 手 — hand ・ yubi 指 — finger
ashi 足 — leg/foot ・ hiza 膝 — knee

Scene 4 — Saying 'it's been X days' (duration)

Kinō kara desu. 昨日からです。 — Since yesterday.
Mikka mae kara desu. 3日前からです。 — Since three days ago.
Isshūkan kurai desu. 1週間くらいです。 — About a week.
Dandan waruku natte imasu. だんだん悪くなっています。 — It's getting worse.
Ima wa sukoshi yoku narimashita. 今は少し良くなりました。 — It's a bit better now.

Scene 5 — Allergies & history (arerugī / アレルギー)

Kusuri no arerugī ga arimasu. 薬のアレルギーがあります。 — I have a drug allergy.
Penishirin ni arerugī ga arimasu. ペニシリンにアレルギーがあります。 — I'm allergic to penicillin.
Shokumotsu arerugī ga arimasu. 食物アレルギーがあります。 — I have a food allergy.
Ninshin shite imasu. 妊娠しています。 — I'm pregnant.
Ima, nonde iru kusuri ga arimasu. 今、飲んでいる薬があります。 — I'm currently taking medication.
Jibyō ga arimasu. 持病があります。 — I have a chronic / pre-existing condition.

Scene 6 — At the pharmacy (yakkyoku / 薬局)

After the visit, the doctor writes a 'shohōsen (処方箋 — prescription)'. You take it to a 'yakkyoku (薬局 — pharmacy)' to get your medicine. Handy lines:

1Shohōsen o onegai shimasu. 処方箋をお願いします。 — (handing over the prescription) I'd like to fill this, please.
2Kono kusuri wa itsu nomimasu ka? この薬はいつ飲みますか? — When do I take this medicine?
3Shokugo desu ka, shokuzen desu ka? 食後ですか、食前ですか? — After meals or before meals? (shokugo = after meals, shokuzen = before, shokkan = between meals)
4Ichinichi ni nankai nomimasu ka? 1日に何回飲みますか? — How many times a day?
5Nemuku narimasu ka? 眠くなりますか? — Will it make me drowsy?
6Shihan'yaku wa arimasu ka? 市販薬はありますか? — (with no prescription) Do you have an over-the-counter option?

Drill these until they come out automatically

Need your insurance card to see a doctor? Start with NHI

National Health Insurance: who enrols, premiums, and how much you pay at the clinic

Official & authoritative links

Can I see a doctor if I speak no Japanese at all?: Yes. Download and print the English Multilingual Medical Questionnaire and bring it filled in (see the links above); many large hospitals and some clinics also offer medical interpreting or phone interpretation. At reception, lead with 'Nihongo ga hanasemasen (I can't speak Japanese)' and staff will usually work with you.
What if I'm not sure whether to call an ambulance?: For life-threatening symptoms (severe chest pain, trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding) call 119 directly. When unsure, in areas where it's available you can dial '#7119' to consult a nurse or other professional by phone, who'll help judge whether you need an ambulance (hours and coverage vary by area — see the official link).
What's the difference between 'hokenshō' and 'maina hokenshō'?: Both prove you have public health insurance when you see a doctor. The traditional one is a paper/plastic health insurance card; increasingly people link their insurance to their My Number Card (a 'maina hokenshō') and tap it at a reader in the clinic or pharmacy. Just say which one you're handing over at reception.
Going alone is stressful — can someone come with me?: Yes. You can post an 'accompaniment' request on TokyoHelp, and a nearby neighbour can come with you to the clinic for free and help interpret on the spot. Note: a neighbour helps you communicate but makes no medical judgments for you — always follow the doctor for diagnosis and medication.

Related guides

Learning Japanese6 min read