At the Pharmacy: Describing Symptoms

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TL;DR 🦄

🤕 머리가 아파요 [mo-ri-ga a-pa-yo] — "I have a headache"

🤧 감기에 걸렸어요 [gam-gi-e geol-lyeo-sseo-yo] — "I have a cold"

💊 이 약은 어떻게 먹어요? [i ya-geun eo-tteo-ke meo-geo-yo?] — "How do I take this medicine?"

🔍 두통약 있어요? [du-tong-yak i-sseo-yo?] — "Do you have headache medicine?"

⚠️ 알레르기가 있어요 [al-le-reu-gi-ga i-sseo-yo] — "I have allergies"

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🎧 Iru Helper Note: Hear every phrase in this lesson spoken aloud and practice your pronunciation with the Iru Helper Widgets.

🌈 The Big Picture

At a 약국 [yak-guk] (pharmacy), the most useful pattern is "[body part]가/이 아파요" — "[body part] hurts." Just point to where it hurts and add 아파요, and the pharmacist can usually take it from there.

머리가 아파요 — "I have a headache" (head + 가 + hurts)

배가 아파요 — "I have a stomachache" (stomach + 가 + hurts)

Adding the cause helps too — 감기에 걸렸어요 ("I have a cold") gives context for what kind of medicine you need.

🎭 아파요 vs. 아파서: Describing the Symptom vs. Its Effect

아파요 simply states that something hurts. 아파서 ("because it hurts...") connects the symptom to its effect — useful for explaining how badly it's affecting you, which helps the pharmacist gauge what strength of medicine to suggest.

(symptom alone) 머리가 아파요 — "I have a headache"

(symptom + effect) 머리가 아파서 잠을 못 잤어요 — "My head hurts so much that I couldn't sleep"

Mentioning severity (잠을 못 잤어요, 일을 못 해요, 너무 아파요) helps the pharmacist recommend something appropriately strong — or suggest seeing a doctor if needed.

🧳 Essential Phrase Kit

머리가 아파요 [mo-ri-ga a-pa-yo] — "I have a headache"

감기에 걸렸어요 [gam-gi-e geol-lyeo-sseo-yo] — "I have a cold"

이 약은 어떻게 먹어요? [i ya-geun eo-tteo-ke meo-geo-yo?] — "How do I take this medicine?"

두통약 있어요? [du-tong-yak i-sseo-yo?] — "Do you have headache medicine?"

알레르기가 있어요 [al-le-reu-gi-ga i-sseo-yo] — "I have allergies"

배가 아파요 [bae-ga a-pa-yo] — "I have a stomachache"

열이 나요 [yeo-ri na-yo] — "I have a fever"

기침이 나요 [gi-chi-mi na-yo] — "I have a cough"

하루에 몇 번 먹어요? [ha-ru-e myeot beon meo-geo-yo?] — "How many times a day do I take it?"

식사 후에 드세요 [shik-sa hu-e deu-se-yo] — "Take it after meals"

🛠️ Putting Together

A. 약사: 어떻게 도와드릴까요?

지은: 머리가 아파서요. 두통약 있어요?

약사: 네, 이게 잘 들어요. 하루에 두 번 드세요.

Translation:

A: "How can I help you?"

J: "I have a headache. Do you have headache medicine?"

A: "Yes, this one works well. Take it twice a day."

🦄 Note how 지은 explains her symptom first (머리가 아파서요), then asks if they have something for it — this is the natural order.

B. 약사: 어디가 아프세요?

민수: 목이 아프고 기침이 나요. 감기에 걸린 것 같아요.

약사: 감기약 드릴게요. 따뜻한 물 많이 드세요.

Translation:

A: "What hurts?"

M: "My throat hurts and I have a cough. I think I have a cold."

A: "I'll give you cold medicine. Drink a lot of warm water."

🦄 감기에 걸린 것 같아요 ("I think I have a cold") is a soft, natural way to self-diagnose without sounding overly certain.

C. 약사: 이 약은 식사 후에 드시고, 하루에 세 번 드세요.

지은: 네, 알겠습니다. 그런데 저 알레르기가 있는데, 이 약 괜찮아요?

약사: 어떤 알레르기 있으세요?

Translation:

A: "Take this medicine after meals, three times a day."

J: "Okay, got it. By the way, I have allergies — is this medicine okay?"

A: "What kind of allergy do you have?"

🦄 Always mention 알레르기가 있어요 if you have one — it's a safety detail pharmacists need, not optional small talk.

🗣️ Speaking Practice: Mini Dialogue

민수: 지은 씨, 얼굴이 안 좋아 보여요. 괜찮아요?

[ji-eun ssi, eol-gu-ri an jo-a bo-yeo-yo. gwaen-chan-a-yo?]

"Jieun, you don't look well. Are you okay?"

지은: 아니요, 머리가 아프고 열이 좀 나는 것 같아요.

[a-ni-yo, mo-ri-ga a-peu-go yeo-ri jom na-neun geot ga-ta-yo]

"No, my head hurts and I think I have a bit of a fever."

민수: 약국 가서 약 사 올게요. 두통약이랑 해열제 사 올까요?

[yak-guk ga-seo yak sa ol-ge-yo. du-tong-ya-gi-rang hae-yeol-je sa ol-kka-yo?]

"I'll go to the pharmacy and get medicine. Should I get headache medicine and a fever reducer?"

지은: 네, 고마워요. 아, 그리고 저 페니실린 알레르기 있다고 약사님께 말씀드려 주세요.

[ne, go-ma-wo-yo. a, geu-ri-go jeo pe-ni-sil-lin al-le-reu-gi it-da-go yak-sa-nim-kke mal-sseum-deu-ryeo ju-se-yo]

"Yes, thank you. Oh, and please tell the pharmacist I have a penicillin allergy."

민수: 알았어요. 금방 다녀올게요. 푹 쉬고 있어요.

[a-ra-sseo-yo. geum-bang da-nyeo-ol-ge-yo. puk swi-go i-sseo-yo]

"Got it. I'll be back soon. Get some rest."

지은: 고마워요, 민수 씨.

[go-ma-wo-yo, min-su ssi]

"Thank you, Minsu."

🧭 Speaking Tip

You don't need fancy medical vocabulary — just point to where it hurts and say "[body part]가/이 아파요." For common symptoms, 머리 (head), 배 (stomach), 목 (throat), and 이 (tooth) cover most situations.

If you're not sure of the Korean word for your symptom, describing how it feels also works: 콕콕 쑤셔요 (sharp, stabbing pain), 따끔거려요 (stinging), 욱신거려요 (throbbing). And always lead with 알레르기가 있어요 if relevant — pharmacists will ask, but it's better to volunteer it first.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

❌ Saying "아파요" alone without specifying where → ✅ Always include the body part: "배가 아파요" not just "아파요"

❌ Forgetting to mention allergies → ✅ Say 알레르기가 있어요 proactively, especially before taking new medicine

❌ Not asking about dosage → ✅ Ask 하루에 몇 번 먹어요? so you don't over- or under-dose

❌ Assuming the pharmacist will guess the severity → ✅ Add detail like 잠을 못 잤어요 or 너무 아파요 so they can recommend the right strength

You're ready to handle a pharmacy visit with confidence — 건강하세요! 💪

<summary>Try this exercise

Instructions: Read each prompt and think about how you'd say it in Korean. Click each item to reveal the answer.

How do you say "I have a headache"?

<summary>Answer

머리가 아파요

How do you say "I have a cold"?

<summary>Answer

감기에 걸렸어요

How do you ask "How do I take this medicine?"

<summary>Answer

이 약은 어떻게 먹어요?

How do you ask "Do you have headache medicine?"

<summary>Answer

두통약 있어요?

How do you say "I have allergies"?

<summary>Answer

알레르기가 있어요

How do you say "I have a stomachache"?

<summary>Answer

배가 아파요

How do you say "I have a fever"?

<summary>Answer

열이 나요

How do you say "I have a cough"?

<summary>Answer

기침이 나요

How do you ask "How many times a day do I take it?"

<summary>Answer

하루에 몇 번 먹어요?

How do you say "Take it after meals"?

<summary>Answer

식사 후에 드세요

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Vocabulary Box

약국 — pharmacy

약사 — pharmacist

증상 — symptom

두통약 — headache medicine

감기약 — cold medicine

해열제 — fever reducer

알레르기 — allergy

처방전 — prescription

식전/식후 — before/after meals

진통제 — painkiller

Pitfalls 💡

아파요 needs a body part: "어디가 아파요?" → "배가 아파요" (don't drop the subject)

열이 나요 (have a fever) vs 열 (heat/fever as a noun) — 나요 makes it a statement about your condition

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Want more reps? Head to the Practice Hub below for three full rounds of pharmacy practice! 💊

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🎯 Practice Hub — At the Pharmacy: Describing Symptoms

Time to put it all together! Work through these three exercises to master describing symptoms and getting what you need at the 약국.

🎧 Remember, you can use the Iru Helper Widgets to hear the correct pronunciation for any phrase below.

Exercise 1 — Name That Symptom 🤒

A. How do you say "My head hurts"?

<summary>Answer

머리가 아파요

B. How do you say "My stomach hurts"?

<summary>Answer

배가 아파요

C. How do you say "My throat hurts"?

<summary>Answer

목이 아파요

D. How do you say "I have a fever"?

<summary>Answer

열이 나요

E. How do you say "I have a cough"?

<summary>Answer

기침이 나요

F. How do you say "I think I have a cold"?

<summary>Answer

감기에 걸린 것 같아요

G. How do you say "I couldn't sleep because it hurt so much"?

<summary>Answer

너무 아파서 잠을 못 잤어요

H. How do you say "I have a toothache"?

<summary>Answer

이가 아파요

I. How do you say "It's a stinging pain"?

<summary>Answer

따끔거려요

J. How do you say "It's a throbbing pain"?

<summary>Answer

욱신거려요

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Cheat Sheet

머리/배/목/이 + 가/이 아파요 — "my [head/stomach/throat/tooth] hurts"

열이 나요 — fever

기침이 나요 — cough

~것 같아요 — "I think..."

너무 + adjective + 아서 — "so [adj] that..."

Exercise 2 — Getting the Right Medicine 💊

A. How do you ask "Do you have headache medicine?"

<summary>Answer

두통약 있어요?

B. How do you ask "How do I take this medicine?"

<summary>Answer

이 약은 어떻게 먹어요?

C. How do you ask "How many times a day do I take it?"

<summary>Answer

하루에 몇 번 먹어요?

D. How do you say "Take it after meals"?

<summary>Answer

식사 후에 드세요

E. How do you say "Take it before meals"?

<summary>Answer

식전에 드세요

F. How do you say "I have allergies"?

<summary>Answer

알레르기가 있어요

G. How do you say "I have a penicillin allergy"?

<summary>Answer

페니실린 알레르기가 있어요

H. How do you ask "What kind of allergy do you have?" (what the pharmacist might ask)

<summary>Answer

어떤 알레르기 있으세요?

I. How do you say "Give me cold medicine, please"

<summary>Answer

감기약 주세요

J. How do you say "I'll give you a painkiller" (pharmacist's line)

<summary>Answer

진통제 드릴게요

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Cheat Sheet

[medicine] 있어요? — "do you have...?"

어떻게 먹어요? — "how do I take it?"

하루에 몇 번 — "how many times a day"

식전/식후 — before/after meals

알레르기가 있어요 — "I have an allergy"

Exercise 3 — Full Conversations 🗣️

A. Pharmacist asks "어디가 아프세요?" — how do you respond if your throat hurts and you have a cough?

<summary>Answer

목이 아프고 기침이 나요

B. How do you tell the pharmacist you think you have a cold and ask for cold medicine?

<summary>Answer

감기에 걸린 것 같아요. 감기약 주세요.

C. How do you respond to "이 약은 하루에 세 번 드세요" to confirm you understood?

<summary>Answer

네, 알겠습니다. 하루에 세 번 먹을게요.

D. How do you say "My head hurts so much I couldn't sleep, do you have something strong?"

<summary>Answer

머리가 너무 아파서 잠을 못 잤어요. 센 약 있어요?

E. How do you mention your allergy before taking new medicine?

<summary>Answer

저 알레르기가 있는데, 이 약 괜찮아요?

F. Pharmacist asks "어떤 알레르기 있으세요?" — how do you answer "penicillin allergy"?

<summary>Answer

페니실린 알레르기 있어요

G. How do you ask if you should take medicine before or after meals?

<summary>Answer

식전에 먹어요, 식후에 먹어요?

H. How do you describe a stabbing stomach pain and ask for medicine?

<summary>Answer

배가 콕콕 쑤셔요. 약 있어요?

I. How do you thank the pharmacist and say goodbye after getting medicine?

<summary>Answer

감사합니다, 안녕히 계세요

J. How do you tell a friend you're going to the pharmacy because you have a fever?

<summary>Answer

열이 나서 약국에 가요

📚

Cheat Sheet

어디가 아프세요? — "what hurts?" (pharmacist asking)

~것 같아요 — "I think..."

~인데, 괜찮아요? — "...but is it okay?"

식전/식후 — before/after meals

콕콕 쑤셔요 — stabbing pain

🎉 잘했어요! Now you can confidently describe symptoms and get the medicine you need at any 약국.