πŸ₯

Essentials: Pharmacy, Hospital, Bank

Keywords
μ•½κ΅­ / 병원 / 은행
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Basic Vocabulary
🧭
TL;DR β€” 5 Words for This Lesson
  • μ•½κ΅­ β€” pharmacy
  • 병원 β€” hospital
  • 은행 β€” bank
  • 우체ꡭ β€” post office
  • κ²½μ°°μ„œ β€” police station
πŸ¦‹
These five places handle life's essential errands β€” getting medicine, seeing a doctor, managing money, sending mail, and reporting a problem. Up next, we head somewhere more relaxing: <mention-page url="
β˜•
Social Spaces: Cafe, Restaurant, Bar"> to learn about cafes, restaurants, and bars. Here's all 5 words together: "머리가 μ•„νŒŒμ„œ 병원에 κ°”λ‹€κ°€ μ•½κ΅­μ—μ„œ 약을 μƒ€μ–΄μš”. κ·Έ λ‹€μŒ μ€ν–‰μ—μ„œ λˆμ„ μ°Ύκ³ , μš°μ²΄κ΅­μ—μ„œ 택배λ₯Ό 보내고, 지갑을 μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ €μ„œ κ²½μ°°μ„œμ—λ„ κ°”μ–΄μš”." (My head hurt, so I went to the hospital and then bought medicine at the pharmacy. Then I withdrew money at the bank, sent a package at the post office, and even went to the police station because I lost my wallet.)

🎯 Big Picture

No matter where you live, certain errands come up again and again: picking up medicine at the μ•½κ΅­, seeing a doctor at the 병원, handling money at the 은행, sending mail or packages at the 우체ꡭ, and β€” hopefully rarely β€” reporting something to the κ²½μ°°μ„œ. Knowing these five words means you can handle almost any everyday situation in Korean.

πŸ“– Core Vocabulary Family

1. μ•½κ΅­ (pharmacy)

A shop where you buy medicine, often with a pharmacist's (약사) advice.
  • μ•½κ΅­μ—μ„œ 약을 μ‚¬μš”. (I buy medicine at the pharmacy.)
  • 머리가 μ•„νŒŒμ„œ 약ꡭ에 κ°”μ–΄μš”. (My head hurt, so I went to the pharmacy.)
Grammar note: μ²˜λ°©μ „ (prescription) is needed at μ•½κ΅­ for certain medicines, usually issued by a 병원.

2. 병원 (hospital)

A medical facility for diagnosis and treatment β€” ranges from small clinics to large hospitals.
  • μ•„νŒŒμ„œ 병원에 κ°”μ–΄μš”. (I was sick, so I went to the hospital.)
  • λ³‘μ›μ—μ„œ μ§„λ£Œλ₯Ό λ°›μ•˜μ–΄μš”. (I received a medical exam at the hospital.)
Grammar note: μ§„λ£Œλ₯Ό λ°›λ‹€ (receive medical treatment/examination) is the standard phrase for seeing a doctor.

3. 은행 (bank)

A financial institution for deposits, withdrawals, and transfers.
  • μ€ν–‰μ—μ„œ λˆμ„ μ°Ύμ•˜μ–΄μš”. (I withdrew money from the bank.)
  • 은행은 보톡 4μ‹œμ— λ‹«μ•„μš”. (Banks usually close at 4 o'clock.)
Grammar note: λˆμ„ μ°Ύλ‹€ (withdraw money), λˆμ„ λ„£λ‹€ (deposit money), and λˆμ„ 보내닀 (transfer money) all pair with 은행.

4. 우체ꡭ (post office)

A place for sending mail and packages β€” and in Korea, it also offers basic banking services.
  • μš°μ²΄κ΅­μ—μ„œ νŽΈμ§€λ₯Ό λ³΄λƒˆμ–΄μš”. (I sent a letter at the post office.)
  • 택배λ₯Ό 보내렀면 μš°μ²΄κ΅­μ— κ°€μ•Ό ν•΄μš”. (To send a package, you need to go to the post office.)
Grammar note: 보내닀 (to send) is the key verb for both mail (νŽΈμ§€, 택배) and money transfers.

5. κ²½μ°°μ„œ (police station)

The main police station, for reporting crimes, lost items, or emergencies.
  • 지갑을 μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ €μ„œ κ²½μ°°μ„œμ— κ°”μ–΄μš”. (I lost my wallet, so I went to the police station.)
  • κ²½μ°°μ„œμ— μ‹ κ³ ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. (I reported it to the police station.)
Grammar note: μ‹ κ³ ν•˜λ‹€ (to report) and μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ¦¬λ‹€ (to lose something) are the key verbs here.

πŸ—£οΈ How They Work in a Sentence

  1. 머리가 μ•„νŒŒμ„œ 병원에 κ°”λ‹€κ°€ μ•½κ΅­μ—μ„œ 약을 μƒ€μ–΄μš”. (My head hurt, so I went to the hospital and then bought medicine at the pharmacy.)
  1. μ€ν–‰μ—μ„œ λˆμ„ μ°Ύκ³  μš°μ²΄κ΅­μ—μ„œ 택배λ₯Ό λ³΄λƒˆμ–΄μš”. (I withdrew money from the bank and sent a package at the post office.)
  1. 지갑을 μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ €μ„œ κ²½μ°°μ„œμ— μ‹ κ³ ν•˜λŸ¬ κ°”μ–΄μš”. (I lost my wallet, so I went to report it at the police station.)

🧱 General Formation Rule

  • 에 + κ°€λ‹€ for destinations: 병원에 κ°€λ‹€ (go to the hospital), 은행에 κ°€λ‹€ (go to the bank).
  • μ—μ„œ + verb for actions happening there: μ•½κ΅­μ—μ„œ 약을 사닀 (buy medicine at the pharmacy), μ€ν–‰μ—μ„œ λˆμ„ μ°Ύλ‹€ (withdraw money at the bank).
  • Money verbs with 은행: μ°Ύλ‹€ (withdraw), λ„£λ‹€ (deposit), 보내닀 (transfer/send).
  • Mail verbs with 우체ꡭ: 보내닀 (send), λΆ€μΉ˜λ‹€ (mail/send, also common).
  • Emergency/report verbs with κ²½μ°°μ„œ: μ‹ κ³ ν•˜λ‹€ (report), μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ¦¬λ‹€ (lose something).
πŸ”Ž
Cross-check: ν‘œμ€€κ΅­μ–΄λŒ€μ‚¬μ „ (korean.go.kr) defines μ•½κ΅­ as a place licensed to sell medicine, 병원 as a facility for examining and treating patients, 은행 as an institution handling deposits, loans, and other financial transactions, 우체ꡭ as a government facility handling mail and postal services, and κ²½μ°°μ„œ as the administrative office of the police responsible for public safety.

πŸ” Synonym Alert

  • μ•½κ΅­ vs. 병원 β€” μ•½κ΅­ dispenses medicine (often over-the-counter, or with a prescription); 병원 diagnoses and treats illness. You often visit 병원 first, then μ•½κ΅­.
  • 은행 vs. 우체ꡭ β€” 은행 is a dedicated bank; 우체ꡭ primarily handles mail but also offers basic banking services (우체ꡭ 예금) in Korea, so don't assume it's mail-only.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  1. For prescription medicine, you need a μ²˜λ°©μ „ from a 병원 before the μ•½κ΅­ can give it to you.
  1. 은행 hours are limited β€” most close around 4 PM on weekdays, so plan ahead.
  1. 우체ꡭ isn't just for mail β€” it also offers postal banking services (우체ꡭ 예금, 우체ꡭ 택배).
  1. κ²½μ°°μ„œ (main police station) vs. νŒŒμΆœμ†Œ (smaller local police substation) β€” both exist, but κ²½μ°°μ„œ is the more general/larger term.
  1. μ§„λ£Œλ₯Ό λ°›λ‹€ (to receive a medical exam/treatment) is the phrase you use as the patient β€” don't confuse it with μ§„μ°°ν•˜λ‹€ (for the doctor examining you).
μ•½κ΅­, 병원, 은행, 우체ꡭ, κ²½μ°°μ„œλ§Œ μ•Œλ©΄ μΌμƒμ˜ 어렀움도 λ‹€ ν•΄κ²°ν•  수 μžˆμ–΄μš”! πŸ₯πŸ’ŠπŸ¦
Try this exercise
Fill in the blanks with μ•½κ΅­, 병원, 은행, 우체ꡭ, or κ²½μ°°μ„œ.
A. 머리가 μ•„νŒŒμ„œ ___에 κ°”μ–΄μš”. (pharmacy)
B. μ•„νŒŒμ„œ ___에 κ°”μ–΄μš”. (hospital)
C. ___μ—μ„œ λˆμ„ μ°Ύμ•˜μ–΄μš”. (bank)
D. ___μ—μ„œ νŽΈμ§€λ₯Ό λ³΄λƒˆμ–΄μš”. (post office)
E. 지갑을 μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ €μ„œ ___에 κ°”μ–΄μš”. (police station)
F. ___μ—μ„œ 약을 μ‚¬μš”. (pharmacy)
G. ___μ—μ„œ μ§„λ£Œλ₯Ό λ°›μ•˜μ–΄μš”. (hospital)
H. ___은 4μ‹œμ— λ‹«μ•„μš”. (bank)
I. 택배λ₯Ό 보내렀면 ___에 κ°€μ•Ό ν•΄μš”. (post office)
J. ___에 μ‹ κ³ ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. (police station)
Answer Key
A. μ•½κ΅­
B. 병원
C. 은행
D. 우체ꡭ
E. κ²½μ°°μ„œ
F. μ•½κ΅­
G. 병원
H. 은행
I. 우체ꡭ
J. κ²½μ°°μ„œ
πŸ“˜
Vocabulary Box: μ•½κ΅­ (pharmacy) Β· 병원 (hospital) Β· 은행 (bank) Β· 우체ꡭ (post office) Β· κ²½μ°°μ„œ (police station)
⚠️
Pitfalls Recap: μ²˜λ°©μ „ needed for some μ•½κ΅­ medicine Β· 은행 closes ~4PM Β· 우체ꡭ also does banking Β· κ²½μ°°μ„œ vs. νŒŒμΆœμ†Œ Β· μ§„λ£Œλ₯Ό λ°›λ‹€ = patient's action.
πŸ”₯
Want more reps? Head down to the Practice Hub below for 50 more questions on essential places vocabulary!
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πŸ“¦
Practice Hub β€” 50 extra reps to lock in μ•½κ΅­, 병원, 은행, 우체ꡭ, κ²½μ°°μ„œ and related vocabulary. New bonus words: μ•½ (medicine), μ²˜λ°©μ „ (prescription), μ˜μ‚¬ (doctor), κ°„ν˜Έμ‚¬ (nurse), κ³„μ’Œ (bank account), 톡μž₯ (bankbook/passbook), 택배 (parcel/delivery), μš°ν‘œ (stamp), μ‹ κ³ ν•˜λ‹€ (to report), μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ¦¬λ‹€ (to lose).

Exercise 1 β€” Word Recall: Korean β†’ English πŸ”

  1. μ•½
  1. μ²˜λ°©μ „
  1. μ˜μ‚¬
  1. κ°„ν˜Έμ‚¬
  1. κ³„μ’Œ
  1. 톡μž₯
  1. 택배
  1. μš°ν‘œ
  1. μ‹ κ³ ν•˜λ‹€
  1. μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ¦¬λ‹€
Answer Key
  1. medicine
  1. prescription
  1. doctor
  1. nurse
  1. bank account
  1. bankbook / passbook
  1. parcel / delivery
  1. stamp
  1. to report
  1. to lose

Exercise 2 β€” Word Recall: English β†’ Korean πŸ”

  1. pharmacy
  1. hospital
  1. bank
  1. post office
  1. police station
  1. medicine
  1. doctor
  1. bank account
  1. parcel / delivery
  1. to lose
Answer Key
  1. μ•½κ΅­
  1. 병원
  1. 은행
  1. 우체ꡭ
  1. κ²½μ°°μ„œ
  1. μ•½
  1. μ˜μ‚¬
  1. κ³„μ’Œ
  1. 택배
  1. μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ¦¬λ‹€

Exercise 3 β€” Verb Practice (μ°Ύλ‹€/λ„£λ‹€/보내닀/μ‹ κ³ ν•˜λ‹€) 🧩

  1. μ€ν–‰μ—μ„œ λˆμ„ ___. (withdraw)
  1. κ³„μ’Œμ— λˆμ„ ___. (deposit)
  1. μš°μ²΄κ΅­μ—μ„œ 택배λ₯Ό ___. (send)
  1. 지갑을 ___ν•΄μ„œ κ²½μ°°μ„œμ— κ°”μ–΄μš”. (lose)
  1. 도둑을 ___ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. (report)
  1. λ³‘μ›μ—μ„œ ___λ₯Ό λ°›μ•˜μ–΄μš”. (medical exam)
  1. μ˜μ‚¬κ°€ μ²˜λ°©μ „μ„ ___ μ€¬μ–΄μš”. (write/give)
  1. μ•½κ΅­μ—μ„œ ___을 μƒ€μ–΄μš”. (medicine)
  1. μš°ν‘œλ₯Ό ___μ„œ νŽΈμ§€λ₯Ό λ³΄λƒˆμ–΄μš”. (buy)
  1. 톡μž₯을 ___ λ§Œλ“€μ—ˆμ–΄μš”. (make/create)
Answer Key
  1. μ°Ύμ•˜μ–΄μš” (λˆμ„ μ°Ύλ‹€ = withdraw money)
  1. λ„£μ—ˆμ–΄μš” (λˆμ„ λ„£λ‹€ = deposit money)
  1. λ³΄λƒˆμ–΄μš” (택배λ₯Ό 보내닀)
  1. μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ €μ„œ (지갑을 μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ¦¬λ‹€)
  1. μ‹ κ³  (도둑을 μ‹ κ³ ν•˜λ‹€)
  1. μ§„λ£Œ (μ§„λ£Œλ₯Ό λ°›λ‹€)
  1. 써 (μ²˜λ°©μ „μ„ 써 μ£Όλ‹€)
  1. μ•½ (약을 사닀)
  1. 사 (μš°ν‘œλ₯Ό 사닀)
  1. μƒˆλ‘œ (톡μž₯을 μƒˆλ‘œ λ§Œλ“€λ‹€)
πŸ“š
Quick Reference: 은행 β†’ μ°Ύλ‹€/λ„£λ‹€/보내닀 (money) Β· 우체ꡭ β†’ 보내닀/λΆ€μΉ˜λ‹€ (mail) Β· 병원 β†’ μ§„λ£Œλ₯Ό λ°›λ‹€ Β· μ•½κ΅­ β†’ 약을 사닀/μ²˜λ°©μ „ Β· κ²½μ°°μ„œ β†’ μ‹ κ³ ν•˜λ‹€/μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ¦¬λ‹€.

Exercise 4 β€” Sentence Translation: English β†’ Korean ✍️

  1. I need to see a doctor today.
  1. Can I get this prescription filled here?
  1. I want to open a bank account.
  1. I'd like to send this package.
  1. I lost my phone yesterday.
  1. The nurse was very kind.
  1. I need to buy some medicine.
  1. What time does the bank close?
  1. I need to report a lost item.
  1. Do you sell stamps here?
Answer Key
  1. 였늘 병원에 κ°€μ•Ό ν•΄μš”.
  1. μ—¬κΈ°μ„œ 이 μ²˜λ°©μ „ 약을 받을 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”?
  1. κ³„μ’Œλ₯Ό λ§Œλ“€κ³  μ‹Άμ–΄μš”.
  1. 이 택배λ₯Ό 보내고 μ‹Άμ–΄μš”.
  1. μ–΄μ œ νœ΄λŒ€ν°μ„ μžƒμ–΄λ²„λ Έμ–΄μš”.
  1. κ°„ν˜Έμ‚¬κ°€ 정말 μΉœμ ˆν–ˆμ–΄μš”.
  1. 약을 μ’€ 사야 ν•΄μš”.
  1. 은행은 λͺ‡ μ‹œμ— λ‹«μ•„μš”?
  1. 뢄싀물을 μ‹ κ³ ν•΄μ•Ό ν•΄μš”.
  1. μ—¬κΈ°μ„œ μš°ν‘œ νŒ”μ•„μš”?

Exercise 5 β€” Mixed Review: Match the Scenario 🧩

  1. You have a headache and need medicine
  1. You need a doctor to examine you
  1. You want to withdraw cash
  1. You need to send a birthday gift to a friend
  1. Your bag was stolen
  1. Someone gives you medical advice and a diagnosis
  1. You receive a piece of paper allowing you to get specific medicine
  1. You open a new savings account
  1. You buy stamps to mail a letter
  1. A professional checks your blood pressure and listens to your heart
Answer Key
  1. μ•½κ΅­
  1. 병원
  1. 은행
  1. 우체ꡭ
  1. κ²½μ°°μ„œ
  1. μ˜μ‚¬
  1. μ²˜λ°©μ „
  1. κ³„μ’Œ / 톡μž₯
  1. μš°ν‘œ
  1. κ°„ν˜Έμ‚¬
μ•½κ΅­, 병원, 은행, 우체ꡭ, κ²½μ°°μ„œλ§Œ μ•Œλ©΄ μΌμƒμ˜ 어렀움도 λ‹€ ν•΄κ²°ν•  수 μžˆμ–΄μš”! πŸ₯πŸ’ŠπŸ¦