Vocab: Pharmacy Visits

🎧

🎧 Iru Helper Note

Type any Korean word or sentence from this lesson into

Korean Helper Widgets to hear it read aloud. Pharmacy Korean should sound calm, clear, and safety-first — less “mystery bottle,” more “tiny responsible adult.” 🧴

🌈 The Big Picture

🎨 The Core Pharmacy Visit Family

💊 처방약 — prescription medicine

• 처방약을 받으러 왔어요. (I came to pick up prescription medicine.) 🧾

• 이 약은 처방약인가요? (Is this prescription medicine?) 💊

• 처방약은 식후에 드세요. (Take the prescription medicine after meals.) 🍚

• 처방전 = prescription document

• 처방약 = the prescribed medicine itself

• 일반약 = over-the-counter medicine

🤒 증상 — symptom

• 감기 증상이 있어요. (I have cold symptoms.) 🤧

• 증상이 심해졌어요. (The symptoms got worse.) ⚠️

• 증상이 계속되면 병원에 가세요. (If the symptoms continue, go to a clinic/hospital.) 🏥

• 기침 = cough

• 콧물 = runny nose

• 두통 = headache

• 복통 = stomachache

• 어지러움 = dizziness

• 열 = fever

• 알레르기 = allergy

🩺 진료 — medical consultation / treatment

• 병원에서 진료를 받았어요. (I received medical care at the clinic/hospital.) 🏥

• 어떤 증상으로 진료를 받으셨어요? (For what symptoms did you receive medical care?) 🤒

• 진료 후에 처방전을 받았어요. (After the consultation, I received a prescription.) 🧾

• 진료를 받다 = to receive medical care / see a doctor

• 진료 후에 = after the consultation

• 진료 예약 = medical appointment

⏰ 꾸준히 — consistently / regularly

• 약을 꾸준히 드셔야 해요. (You need to take the medicine consistently.) 📅

• 증상이 좋아져도 이틀 동안은 꾸준히 드세요. (Even if symptoms improve, take it consistently for two days.) ✅

• 꾸준히 복용하지 않으면 효과가 떨어질 수 있어요. (If you do not take it consistently, the effect may decrease.) 📉

• 꾸준히 드세요. = Take it regularly.

• 필요할 때만 드세요. = Take it only when needed.

⚠️ 조심하다 — to be careful

• 이 약을 먹으면 졸릴 수 있으니까 운전을 조심하세요. (This medicine may make you sleepy, so be careful driving.) 🚗

• 알레르기가 있으면 성분을 조심해야 해요. (If you have allergies, you need to be careful about ingredients.) 🌿

• 빈속에 먹는 것은 조심하세요. (Be careful about taking it on an empty stomach.) 🍽️

🛠️ How They Work in a Sentence

1. From clinic to pharmacy

• 진료를 받다 = to receive medical care / see a doctor

• 받으러 오다 = to come to receive/pick up something

2. Explaining symptoms

• 사흘째 = for the third day

• 계속되다 = to continue

3. Understanding instructions

• 식후 = after meals

• 졸리다 = to feel sleepy

• 조심하세요 can sound gentle, but it is still a safety warning.

🧩 General Formation Rule

• 증상이 있다 = to have symptoms

• 증상이 심해지다 = symptoms get worse

• 진료를 받다 = to receive medical consultation/treatment

• 처방전을 받다 = to receive a prescription document

• 처방약을 받다 = to receive prescription medicine

• 약을 먹다/복용하다/드시다 = to take medicine

• 연고를 바르다 = to apply ointment

• 스프레이를 뿌리다 = to spray a spray medicine

• 꾸준히 하다 = to do consistently

• N을/를 조심하다 = to be careful about N

• 식전 = before meals

• 식후 = after meals

• 자기 전 = before sleeping

• 공복 = empty stomach

📚 Cross-check note

🪞 Synonym Alert

• 처방약 (prescription medicine) vs. 처방전 (prescription document): related, but not interchangeable. 🧾

• 진료 (medical consultation/treatment) vs. 치료 (treatment/cure): 진료 focuses on medical care from a professional; 치료 focuses more on the treatment process itself. 🩺

• 꾸준히 (consistently/steadily) vs. 계속 (continuously/keep doing): 꾸준히 emphasizes steady regularity; 계속 simply means something continues. ⏰

• 조심하다 (be careful) vs. 주의하다 (pay attention / exercise caution): 주의하다 sounds more formal or notice-like; 조심하다 is common in everyday warnings. ⚠️

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

• ❌ 처방전 = medicine → ✅ 처방전 is the document; 처방약 is the medicine. 🧾

• ❌ 진료 = surgery → ✅ 진료 usually means medical consultation/treatment. 🏥

• ❌ 꾸준히 = quickly → ✅ 꾸준히 means consistently over time. 📅

• ❌ 조심하세요 is optional decoration → ✅ In medical contexts, it can be an important safety warning. ⚠️

• ❌ using 먹다 for every medicine → ✅ pills are 먹다/복용하다, ointment is 바르다, and spray is 뿌리다. 💊

📦

🎯 Practice Hub — Vocab: Pharmacy Visits

 

Welcome to your Pharmacy Visits Practice Hub! 💊 This set trains symptom explanations, prescription vocabulary, doctor-visit phrases, consistent-use instructions, and safety warnings. Your mission: understand the medicine label before the medicine label understands you. Very responsible. 🧾

 

🔊 Audio reminder: Use

Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a pharmacy sentence before saying it aloud.

 

📝 Instructions: Complete each Korean sentence with the best pharmacy word or phrase. Think about whether the sentence describes symptoms, medical care, medicine type, timing, or a warning.

 

Exercise 1 — Symptoms at the Counter 🤒

A. 목이 아프고 기침 ＿＿＿＿이 있어요.

My throat hurts, and I have cough symptoms. 😷

Answer

증상 — 기침 증상 means cough symptoms.

B. 콧물이 계속 나서 감기 ＿＿＿＿ 같아요.

My nose keeps running, so I think it is cold symptoms. 🤧

Answer

증상 — 감기 증상 is natural.

C. 두통이 심하면 ＿＿＿＿을 자세히 설명하세요.

If the headache is severe, explain the symptoms in detail. 🧠

Answer

증상 — 증상을 설명하다 means to explain symptoms.

D. 열이 나고 몸살 ＿＿＿＿도 조금 있어요.

I have a fever and also have some body-ache symptoms. 🌡️

Answer

증상 — Body aches can be described as 몸살 증상.

E. 복통 증상이 언제부터 ＿＿＿＿?

Since when have you had stomachache symptoms? 🕒

Answer

있었어요 — 언제부터 있었어요? asks when something started.

F. 어지러움이 있으면 운전을 ＿＿＿＿.

If you have dizziness, be careful when driving. 🚗

Answer

조심하세요 — Dizziness plus driving calls for caution.

G. 알레르기 ＿＿＿＿이 있으면 먼저 말해 주세요.

If you have allergy symptoms, please say so first. 🌿

Answer

증상 — 알레르기 증상 means allergy symptoms.

H. 증상이 ＿＿＿＿ 병원에 가는 게 좋아요.

If the symptoms continue, it is good to go to a clinic/hospital. 🏥

Answer

계속되면 — Continuing symptoms may need medical care.

I. 기침이 심해져서 약사에게 ＿＿＿＿을 말했어요.

My cough got worse, so I told the pharmacist my symptoms. 💬

Answer

증상 — 증상을 말하다 means to state symptoms.

J. 감기약을 고르기 전에 현재 ＿＿＿＿을 확인하세요.

Check the current symptoms before choosing cold medicine. 💊

Answer

증상 — Medicine choice depends on symptoms.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 목 → throat/neck

• 아프다 → to hurt

• 기침 → cough

• 증상 → symptom

• 콧물 → runny nose

• 감기 → cold

• 두통 → headache

• 심하다 → to be severe

• 열이 나다 → to have a fever

• 몸살 → body aches

• 복통 → stomachache

• 어지러움 → dizziness

• 운전 → driving

• 조심하다 → to be careful

• 알레르기 → allergy

• 계속되다 → to continue

• 약사 → pharmacist

• 감기약 → cold medicine

• 고르다 → to choose

• 확인하다 → to check

Tip 💡 Use 증상 when you want to describe what your body is experiencing clearly and politely.

Exercise 2 — Doctor Visit & Prescription Chain 🏥

A. 병원에서 ＿＿＿＿를 받고 처방전을 받았어요.

I received medical care at the clinic/hospital and got a prescription. 🧾

Answer

진료 — 진료를 받다 means to receive medical care.

B. 의사에게 ＿＿＿＿을 설명한 뒤 약을 처방받았어요.

After explaining the symptoms to the doctor, I received prescribed medicine. 🩺

Answer

증상 — Explain symptoms before medicine is prescribed.

C. 처방전을 가지고 약국에서 ＿＿＿＿을 받았어요.

I took the prescription and received prescription medicine at the pharmacy. 💊

Answer

처방약 — Document first, medicine second.

D. 이 약은 ＿＿＿＿ 없이 살 수 있나요?

Can I buy this medicine without a prescription document? 🧾

Answer

처방전 — 처방전 없이 means without a prescription document.

E. 진료 후에 받은 약은 ＿＿＿＿일 가능성이 커요.

Medicine received after a doctor visit is likely prescription medicine. 🏥

Answer

처방약 — Medicine prescribed after consultation is 처방약.

F. 증상이 가벼우면 ＿＿＿＿을 추천받을 수도 있어요.

If symptoms are mild, you may be recommended over-the-counter medicine. 🌿

Answer

일반약 — 일반약 means over-the-counter medicine.

G. 의사의 설명을 듣고 ＿＿＿＿를 마쳤어요.

I listened to the doctor’s explanation and finished the consultation. 🩺

Answer

진료 — 진료를 마치다 means to finish medical consultation/treatment.

H. 처방약을 받으려면 먼저 ＿＿＿＿을 보여 주세요.

To receive prescription medicine, please show the prescription first. 🧾

Answer

처방전 — The pharmacy needs the document.

I. 약사가 ＿＿＿＿ 이름과 복용법을 설명했어요.

The pharmacist explained the prescription medicine’s name and usage. 💊

Answer

처방약의 — Possessive form: “of the prescription medicine.”

J. 진료를 받지 않았으면 약사에게 현재 ＿＿＿＿을 자세히 말하세요.

If you did not see a doctor, tell the pharmacist your current symptoms in detail. 💬

Answer

증상 — Current symptoms guide safer medicine choice.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 병원 → clinic/hospital

• 진료 → medical consultation/treatment

• 처방전 → prescription document

• 의사 → doctor

• 증상 → symptom

• 설명하다 → to explain

• 처방받다 → to receive a prescription

• 약국 → pharmacy

• 처방약 → prescription medicine

• 없이 → without

• 일반약 → over-the-counter medicine

• 추천받다 → to be recommended

• 마치다 → to finish

• 보여 주다 → to show

• 약사 → pharmacist

• 복용법 → dosage/how to take medicine

• 현재 → current

• 자세히 → in detail

Tip 💡 Chain to remember: 진료 → 처방전 → 처방약.

Exercise 3 — Dosage, Timing & Medicine Verbs ⏰

A. 이 알약은 하루에 두 번 ＿＿＿＿.

Take this pill twice a day. 💊

Answer

드세요 — Pills use 먹다/드시다/복용하다.

B. 위가 약하면 ＿＿＿＿에 드시는 게 좋아요.

If your stomach is weak, it is good to take it after meals. 🍚

Answer

식후 — 식후 means after meals.

C. 공복에 먹으면 속이 불편할 수 있으니 ＿＿＿＿.

If you take it on an empty stomach, your stomach may feel uncomfortable, so be careful. 🍽️

Answer

조심하세요 — A warning phrase for risk or discomfort.

D. 처방약은 삼 일 동안 ＿＿＿＿ 복용하세요.

Take the prescription medicine consistently for three days. 📅

Answer

꾸준히 — Consistency over time.

E. 필요할 때만 드세요 means ＿＿＿＿ 먹으세요.

“Take only when needed” means take it only when needed. 🎯

Answer

필요할 때만 — This contrasts with 꾸준히.

F. 연고는 아픈 곳에 얇게 ＿＿＿＿.

Apply the ointment thinly to the painful area. 🧴

Answer

바르세요 — Ointment uses 바르다.

G. 코 스프레이는 코에 ＿＿＿＿.

Spray the nasal spray into the nose. 👃

Answer

뿌리세요 — Spray-type medicine uses 뿌리다.

H. 약 봉투에 적힌 시간을 ＿＿＿＿ 드세요.

Check the time written on the medicine envelope and take it. 🧾

Answer

확인하고 — Check first, take second.

I. 증상이 좋아져도 마음대로 약을 ＿＿＿＿ 마세요.

Even if symptoms improve, do not stop the medicine however you want. 🛑

Answer

끊지 — 약을 끊다 means to stop taking medicine.

J. 복용법을 모르면 약사에게 다시 ＿＿＿＿.

If you do not know how to take it, ask the pharmacist again. 🧑‍⚕️

Answer

물어보세요 — Useful and safe pharmacy action.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 알약 → pill

• 하루에 두 번 → twice a day

• 드시다 → to take/eat honorifically

• 위 → stomach

• 약하다 → to be weak

• 식후 → after meals

• 공복 → empty stomach

• 속이 불편하다 → stomach feels uncomfortable

• 조심하다 → to be careful

• 처방약 → prescription medicine

• 꾸준히 → consistently

• 필요할 때만 → only when needed

• 연고 → ointment

• 바르다 → to apply

• 스프레이 → spray

• 뿌리다 → to spray

• 약 봉투 → medicine envelope

• 확인하다 → to check

• 끊다 → to stop

• 복용법 → how to take medicine

• 물어보다 → to ask

Tip 💡 Match the medicine type: pills are taken, ointment is applied, spray is sprayed.

Exercise 4 — Warnings & Caution ⚠️

A. 이 약을 먹으면 졸릴 수 있으니까 운전을 ＿＿＿＿.

This medicine may make you sleepy, so be careful driving. 🚗

Answer

조심하세요 — A key warning phrase.

B. 술과 함께 먹는 것은 ＿＿＿＿ 해요.

You need to be careful about taking it with alcohol. 🍺

Answer

조심해야 — 조심해야 해요 means need to be careful.

C. 부작용이 있으면 바로 약사에게 ＿＿＿＿.

If there are side effects, consult the pharmacist right away. 🧑‍⚕️

Answer

상담하세요 — Warnings often include consultation.

D. 햇빛에 민감해질 수 있으니까 외출할 때 ＿＿＿＿.

You may become sensitive to sunlight, so be careful when going out. ☀️

Answer

조심하세요 — General caution phrase.

E. 이 약을 먹는 동안에는 술을 ＿＿＿＿.

Avoid alcohol while taking this medicine. 🍺

Answer

피하세요 — 피하다 means to avoid.

F. 어지러우면 계단을 내려갈 때 특히 ＿＿＿＿.

If you feel dizzy, be especially careful when going down stairs. 🪜

Answer

조심하세요 — A practical safety warning.

G. 아이 손이 닿지 않는 곳에 약을 ＿＿＿＿.

Keep the medicine where children cannot reach it. 👶

Answer

보관하세요 — 보관하다 means to store/keep.

H. 설명서를 읽고 용량을 ＿＿＿＿.

Read the instructions and check the dosage. 📄

Answer

확인하세요 — Dosage must be checked.

I. 증상이 갑자기 심해지면 바로 진료를 ＿＿＿＿.

If symptoms suddenly get worse, receive medical care right away. 🏥

Answer

받으세요 — Serious change means medical care.

J. 조심하세요 sounds gentle, but it can be an important ＿＿＿＿.

“Be careful” sounds gentle, but it can be an important warning. ⚠️

Answer

경고 — 경고 means warning.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 졸리다 → to be sleepy

• 운전 → driving

• 조심하다 → to be careful

• 술 → alcohol

• 부작용 → side effect

• 바로 → right away

• 상담하다 → to consult

• 햇빛 → sunlight

• 민감해지다 → to become sensitive

• 외출하다 → to go out

• 피하다 → to avoid

• 어지럽다 → to be dizzy

• 계단 → stairs

• 보관하다 → to store

• 설명서 → instructions

• 용량 → dosage

• 갑자기 → suddenly

• 진료 → medical care/consultation

• 경고 → warning

Tip 💡 Polite warning forms can sound soft, but they are still safety instructions.

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. 처방전을 먹어요 ❌ → ＿＿＿＿을 먹어요. ✅

I take prescription medicine. 💊

Answer

처방약 — You take the medicine, not the prescription document.

B. 진료 = 수술 ❌ → 병원에서 진료를 ＿＿＿＿. ✅

I received medical care at a clinic/hospital. 🩺

Answer

받았어요 — 진료 usually means consultation/treatment, not necessarily surgery.

C. 꾸준히 = 빨리 ❌ → 약을 ＿＿＿＿ 드세요. ✅

Take the medicine regularly. ⏰

Answer

꾸준히 — It means regularly/consistently, not quickly.

D. 연고를 먹어요 ❌ → 연고를 얇게 ＿＿＿＿. ✅

Apply the ointment thinly. 🧴

Answer

바르세요 — Ointment is applied.

E. 조심하세요 = optional decoration ❌ → 운전은 꼭 ＿＿＿＿. ✅

Be sure to be careful driving. 🚗

Answer

조심하세요 — Treat caution phrases as real warnings.

F. 증상이 심해지면 병원에 ＿＿＿＿.

If symptoms get worse, go to a clinic/hospital. 🏥

Answer

가세요 — Serious or worsening symptoms may need medical care.

G. 처방전과 처방약을 ＿＿＿＿ 마세요.

Do not confuse the prescription document and prescription medicine. 🧾

Answer

헷갈리지 — 처방전 is the document; 처방약 is the medicine.

H. 증상이 좋아져도 이틀 동안은 약을 ＿＿＿＿ 드세요.

Even if symptoms improve, take the medicine regularly for two days. 📅

Answer

꾸준히 — Consistency means regular follow-through.

I. 졸릴 수 있으니까 운전은 ＿＿＿＿.

It may make you sleepy, so be careful driving. 🚗

Answer

조심하세요 — This is a safety instruction.

J. 기침 증상으로 진료를 받고 처방약을 ＿＿＿＿ 먹고 있어요.

I received medical care for cough symptoms and am taking prescription medicine regularly. 💊

Answer

꾸준히 — Master sentence: 증상, 진료, 처방약, and 꾸준히 all work together.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 처방전 → prescription document

• 처방약 → prescription medicine

• 먹다 → to take/eat

• 진료 → medical consultation/treatment

• 수술 → surgery

• 꾸준히 → regularly/consistently

• 빨리 → quickly

• 연고 → ointment

• 얇게 → thinly

• 바르다 → to apply

• 조심하다 → to be careful

• 증상이 심해지다 → symptoms get worse

• 헷갈리다 → to be confused

• 이틀 동안 → for two days

• 기침 → cough

Tip 💡 Pitfall patrol rule: identify the object. Documents are brought, medicine is taken, ointment is applied, and warnings are followed.

 

🎉 You completed the pharmacy circuit: symptoms, clinic care, prescription medicine, consistent use, and caution warnings. Your Korean is now more prepared for the least glamorous but most useful errand: getting medicine safely. 💊🩺✨