Korean Vocabulary #25 – Health & Illness: Useful Words for Talking About Sickness and the Body

Oct 27, 2025

3 min read

1️⃣ Introduction

Learn 15 essential Korean words for health and illness .

These expressions will help you describe symptoms, visit the doctor, or talk about how you feel.

They’re practical for travelers, students, and anyone living in Korea.

💬 Example Sentences

저는 아파요.(jeo-neun a-pa-yo.)
→ I’m sick.
감기에 걸렸어요.(gam-gi-e geol-lyeo-sseo-yo.)
→ I caught a cold.
열이 나요.(yeo-ri na-yo.)
→ I have a fever.
기침이 심해요.(gi-chi-mi si-mae-yo.)
→ I have a bad cough.
두통이 있어요.(du-to-ngi i-sseo-yo.)
→ I have a headache.
복통이 있어요.(bok-to-ngi i-sseo-yo.)
→ I have a stomachache.
병원에 가야 해요.(byeong-wo-ne ga-ya hae-yo.)
→ I have to go to the hospital.
약국에서 약을 샀어요.(yak-gu-ge-seo ya-geul sa-sseo-yo.)
→ I bought medicine at the pharmacy.
이 약을 하루에 세 번 드세요.(i ya-geul ha-ru-e se beon deu-se-yo.)
→ Take this medicine three times a day.
의사가 친절해요.(ui-sa-ga chin-jeol-hae-yo.)
→ The doctor is kind.
간호사가 주사를 놨어요.(gan-ho-sa-ga ju-sa-reul no-a-sseo-yo.)
→ The nurse gave me an injection.
피 검사를 받았어요.(pi geom-sa-reul ba-dat-sseo-yo.)
→ I got a blood test.
저는 입원했어요.(jeo-neun ip-weo-nae-sseo-yo.)
→ I was hospitalized.
어제 퇴원했어요.(eo-je toe-weo-nae-sseo-yo.)
→ I was discharged yesterday.
이제 많이 좋아졌어요.(i-je ma-ni jo-a-jyeo-sseo-yo.)
→ I feel much better now.

To say “I have a (symptom)” use Noun + 이/가 있다.→ 두통이 있어요 (I have a headache).
“걸리다” means “to catch (a disease).”→ 감기에 걸렸어요 = I caught a cold.
When the doctor prescribes medicine, you might hear:
- 하루에 세 번 → three times a day
- 식후에 드세요 → take it after meals
입원하다 and 퇴원하다 are often used in hospital contexts:
- 입원하다 = to be admitted
- 퇴원하다 = to leave / be discharged
💡 Common expressions in Korea:
- 몸이 안 좋아요. → I don’t feel well.
- 빨리 나으세요. → Get well soon (polite).

Fill in the blanks.

저는 아파요.→ I’m sick.(jeo-neun a-pa-yo.)
감기에 걸렸어요.→ I caught a cold.(gam-gi-e geol-lyeo-sseo-yo.)
열이 나요.→ I have a fever.(yeo-ri na-yo.)
기침이 심해요.→ I have a bad cough.(gi-chi-mi si-mae-yo.)
두통이 있어요.→ I have a headache.(du-to-ngi i-sseo-yo.)
복통이 있어요.→ I have a stomachache.(bok-to-ngi i-sseo-yo.)
병원에 가야 해요.→ I have to go to the hospital.(byeong-wo-ne ga-ya hae-yo.)
약국에서 약을 샀어요.→ I bought medicine at the pharmacy.(yak-gu-ge-seo ya-geul sa-sseo-yo.)
이 약을 하루에 세 번 드세요.→ Take this medicine three times a day.(i ya-geul ha-ru-e se beon deu-se-yo.)
의사가 친절해요.→ The doctor is kind.(ui-sa-ga chin-jeol-hae-yo.)
간호사가 주사를 놨어요.→ The nurse gave me an injection.(gan-ho-sa-ga ju-sa-reul no-a-sseo-yo.)
피 검사를 받았어요.→ I got a blood test.(pi geom-sa-reul ba-dat-sseo-yo.)
저는 입원했어요.→ I was hospitalized.(jeo-neun ip-weo-nae-sseo-yo.)
어제 퇴원했어요.→ I was discharged yesterday.(eo-je toe-weo-nae-sseo-yo.)
이제 많이 좋아졌어요.→ I feel much better now.(i-je ma-ni jo-a-jyeo-sseo-yo.)

📥 Download your “Health & Illness Vocabulary Worksheet”

Practice expressing your symptoms and hospital conversations naturally in Korean!

Want to talk naturally about your health or visit a doctor in Korean?

Join Soona’s 1:1 Korean Lessons and build real-life confidence step by step!