At the Doctor's Office
At the doctor's office · a free Mandarin Chinese immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
我头疼已经两天了。
I've had a headache for two days already.
Literal I headache already two days (completed).
Uses 已经…了 to describe a state that began in the past and is still continuing. 头疼 functions as both a noun and a verb meaning 'to have a headache'.
- 已经 (yǐjīng) = already; paired with final 了 to express ongoing duration
- 头疼 can act as noun ('a headache') or verb phrase ('to have a headache')
你有没有发烧？
Do you have a fever?
Literal You have not-have fever?
The 有没有 pattern is an affirmative-negative question form, more direct than adding 吗. No question particle is needed at the end when using this A-not-A structure.
- 有没有 = affirmative-negative question pattern (A-not-A)
- No 吗 needed when the A-not-A pattern is already present
我应该每天吃两片药。
I should take two pills every day.
Literal I should every day eat two flat-piece medicine.
应该 expresses recommendation or obligation. 片 is the measure word for flat, thin objects such as pills. 吃药 literally means 'eat medicine' but is the standard way to say 'take medicine'.
- 应该 (yīnggāi) = should — expresses advice or obligation
- 片 is the measure word for pills and other flat, thin objects
- 吃药 = take medicine (lit. eat medicine)
你对什么药物过敏吗？
Are you allergic to any medications?
Literal You towards what medicine allergy (question)?
对…过敏 is the set phrase for 'to be allergic to something'. 什么 here means 'any/what kind of'. The 吗 at the end turns the statement into a yes/no question.
- 对 + noun + 过敏 = to be allergic to something (preposition 对 marks the allergen)
- 吗 (ma) at sentence end = yes/no question marker
我的喉咙比昨天更疼了。
My throat is more painful than yesterday.
Literal My throat compared-to yesterday even-more painful (change).
比…更 forms a comparison meaning 'even more than'. The final 了 signals a change in state, adding the nuance that things have gotten worse.
- 比 + reference + 更 + adjective = even more … than … (强调比较)
- Final 了 marks a change of state or new situation
请把嘴张开，让我看看。
Please open your mouth so I can take a look.
Literal Please [disposal] mouth open, let me look-look.
把 is the disposal construction, moving the object (嘴) before the verb to emphasize the action performed on it. 让我看看 uses verb reduplication to soften the request.
- 把 construction: 把 + object + verb — highlights the action done to the object
- Verb reduplication (看看) softens or casualizes the action
你要多喝水，多休息。
You should drink more water and rest more.
Literal You need more drink water, more rest.
要 here acts as a mild imperative meaning 'should/need to'. Placing 多 before a verb means 'do more of that action'. This phrasing is a classic piece of doctor's advice.
- 要 (yào) = should/need to — mild imperative form
- 多 + verb = do more of the action (多喝 = drink more, 多休息 = rest more)
我已经咳嗽了一个星期了。
I've been coughing for a week already.
Literal I already cough (onset) one measure-word week (ongoing).
The double 了 construction (verb + 了 + duration + 了) shows an action that started in the past and is still continuing. 已经 reinforces the 'already' sense.
- Double 了: verb + 了 + duration + 了 = action started and is still ongoing
- 已经 + double 了 together strongly emphasize both onset and continuity
这张药方可以在药店取药。
You can pick up this prescription at the pharmacy.
Literal This flat-piece prescription can at pharmacy collect medicine.
可以 expresses permission or possibility. 药方 (prescription) uses 张, the measure word for flat paper documents. 取药 means to collect or pick up medicine.
- 可以 (kěyǐ) = can/may — expresses permission or possibility
- 张 is the measure word for flat paper items such as prescriptions and documents
别忘了按时服药。
Don't forget to take your medication on time.
Literal Don't forget according-to-time take-medicine.
别 is the standard negative imperative meaning 'don't'. 按时 means 'on time / according to schedule'. 服药 is more formal than 吃药 and is preferred in written medical instructions.
- 别 (bié) = don't — negative imperative
- 按时 (àn shí) = on time, according to schedule
- 服药 is formal/medical register for taking medicine; compare with everyday 吃药
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
头疼
headache; to have a headache
我头疼，想去看医生。
I have a headache and want to see a doctor.
Pinyin: tóu téng. 头 = head, 疼 = ache/hurt; functions as both noun and verb
发烧
fever; to have a fever
他昨晚发烧了。
He had a fever last night.
Pinyin: fā shāo. Literally 'emit heat'; 发 = emit, 烧 = burn
过敏
allergy; to be allergic
我对花粉过敏。
I am allergic to pollen.
Pinyin: guò mǐn. Always used with preposition 对: 对…过敏 = to be allergic to…
喉咙
throat
我喉咙很疼，说不了话。
My throat hurts so much I can't speak.
Pinyin: hóu lóng. Common in medical contexts; 疼 and 痛 both express pain
咳嗽
to cough; cough
他一直在咳嗽。
He has been coughing non-stop.
Pinyin: ké sou. One of the few Chinese words with a faintly onomatopoeic quality
药方
prescription
医生给了我一张药方。
The doctor gave me a prescription.
Pinyin: yào fāng. Uses measure word 张 (for flat paper); 药 = medicine, 方 = formula
症状
symptom(s)
你有什么症状？
What symptoms do you have?
Pinyin: zhèng zhuàng. Formal medical term standard in clinical settings
服药
to take medicine
请按时服药。
Please take your medicine on time.
Pinyin: fú yào. Formal register; preferred in written medical instructions over everyday 吃药
检查
to examine; examination; check-up
医生需要给你做个检查。
The doctor needs to give you an examination.
Pinyin: jiǎn chá. Versatile: used for medical check-ups, inspections, and general reviews
休息
to rest; rest
多休息对身体好。
Getting more rest is good for your health.
Pinyin: xiū xi. Standard in doctor's advice; also common in everyday contexts
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
林明觉得头疼，喉咙也比昨天更疼了，所以他预约了医生。医生问他有没有发烧，还问他对什么药物过敏。林明说他已经咳嗽了一个星期了，医生听了之后认真地检查了他的喉咙。最后，医生给了他一张药方，嘱咐他要多喝水，多休息，别忘了按时服药。 Lín Míng juéde tóuténg, hóulóng yě bǐ zuótiān gèng téng le, suǒyǐ tā yùyuē le yīshēng. Yīshēng wèn tā yǒu méiyǒu fāshāo, hái wèn tā duì shénme yàowù guòmǐn. Lín Míng shuō tā yǐjīng késou le yī gè xīngqī le, yīshēng tīng le zhīhòu rènzhēn de jiǎnchá le tā de hóulóng. Zuìhòu, yīshēng gěi le tā yī zhāng yàofāng, zhǔfù tā yào duō hē shuǐ, duō xiūxi, bié wàng le ànshí fúyào.
Sentence by sentence
林明觉得头疼
Lin Ming had a headache
Lín Míng juéde tóuténg. 觉得 (juéde) = to feel/sense; 头疼 (tóuténg) serves as the complement of 觉得, functioning as a noun-predicate
喉咙也比昨天更疼了
his throat was also more painful than yesterday
Hóulóng yě bǐ zuótiān gèng téng le. 比…更 (bǐ…gèng) comparison structure; 也 (yě) = also; final 了 (le) marks change of state
他预约了医生
he made an appointment with the doctor
Tā yùyuē le yīshēng. 预约 (yùyuē) = to make an appointment/reserve; 了 (le) marks the action as completed
医生问他有没有发烧
the doctor asked if he had a fever
Yīshēng wèn tā yǒu méiyǒu fāshāo. 有没有 (yǒu méiyǒu) is an affirmative-negative pattern used inside an indirect question after 问 (wèn)
还问他对什么药物过敏
and also asked what medications he was allergic to
Hái wèn tā duì shénme yàowù guòmǐn. 还 (hái) = also/in addition; 对…过敏 (duì…guòmǐn) = to be allergic to (set phrase)
已经咳嗽了一个星期了
had been coughing for a week already
Yǐjīng késou le yī gè xīngqī le. Double 了 (le) construction: verb + 了 + duration + 了 shows an action that began in the past and is still continuing; 一个星期 (yī gè xīngqī) = one week, with measure word 个 (gè)
医生认真地检查了他的喉咙
the doctor carefully examined his throat
Yīshēng rènzhēn de jiǎnchá le tā de hóulóng. 认真地 (rènzhēn de) = carefully, an adverb formed with 地 (de); 检查了 (jiǎnchá le) = examined (completed action)
嘱咐他要多喝水，多休息
reminded him to drink more water and rest more
Zhǔfù tā yào duō hē shuǐ, duō xiūxi. 嘱咐 (zhǔfù) = to remind/instruct; 要 (yào) = mild imperative; 多 (duō) + verb = do more of the action
别忘了按时服药
not forget to take his medication on time
Bié wàng le ànshí fúyào. 别 (bié) = don't (negative imperative); 按时 (ànshí) = on time; 服药 (fúyào) = formal term for taking medicine
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
已经…了 — Expressing Ongoing Duration with 'Already'
Use 已经 (yǐjīng, already) before the verb and 了 (le) at the end of the sentence to describe a state or action that began in the past and is still continuing now. When specifying how long it has been going on, place the duration phrase between the verb and the final 了. For stronger emphasis on continuity, use double 了: place one 了 after the verb and another 了 at the very end (Subject + 已经 + Verb + 了 + Duration + 了).
Subject + 已经 (yǐjīng) + Verb (+ 了) + Duration + 了
我已经头疼两天了。 Wǒ yǐjīng tóuténg liǎng tiān le.
I've had a headache for two days already.
他已经咳嗽了一个星期了。 Tā yǐjīng késou le yī gè xīngqī le.
He has already been coughing for a week.
我们已经学中文三年了。 Wǒmen yǐjīng xué Zhōngwén sān nián le.
We have already been studying Chinese for three years.
她已经发烧了两天了。 Tā yǐjīng fāshāo le liǎng tiān le.
She has already had a fever for two days.
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Translate to Mandarin: 'I have had a headache for two days already.'
Hint Use the 已经 (yǐjīng)…了 (le) pattern to express ongoing duration.
Complete the sentence: 你对什么药物___吗？(Nǐ duì shénme yàowù ___ ma?) (Do you have any drug ___?)
Hint This word means 'allergy' or 'allergic reaction'.
Translate to English: 这张药方可以在药店取药。(Zhè zhāng yàofāng kěyǐ zài yàodiàn qǔ yào.)
Hint 药方 (yàofāng) = prescription; 药店 (yàodiàn) = pharmacy; 取药 (qǔ yào) = pick up medicine.
The doctor says you should drink more water and rest. Which sentence best expresses this?
Rewrite using 已经 (yǐjīng)…了 (le): 'I have been coughing for a week.' Start with 我 (wǒ).
Hint Place 已经 (yǐjīng) before the verb and 了 (le) after the time duration.
That’s today’s phraseberry.
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