Whether you're visiting Korea or chatting with Korean friends, knowing how to describe health and body parts is practically useful.
Body parts (신체 부위)
| Part | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Head | 머리 | meori |
| Face | 얼굴 | eolgul |
| Eye | 눈 | nun |
| Nose | 코 | ko |
| Mouth | 입 | ip |
| Ear | 귀 | gwi |
| Neck | 목 | mok |
| Shoulder | 어깨 | eokkae |
| Arm | 팔 | pal |
| Hand | 손 | son |
| Finger | 손가락 | son-garak |
| Chest | 가슴 | gaseum |
| Stomach/Belly | 배 | bae |
| Back | 등 | deung |
| Waist/Lower back | 허리 | heori |
| Leg | 다리 | dari |
| Knee | 무릎 | mureup |
| Foot | 발 | bal |
| Toe | 발가락 | balgarak |
How to say something hurts
The key pattern: Body part + 이/가 + 아파요
머리가 아파요. My head hurts. 배가 아파요. My stomach hurts. 목이 아파요. My throat/neck hurts. 허리가 아파요. My lower back hurts. 다리가 아파요. My leg hurts.
아프다 = to hurt, to be sick, to be in pain
Describing symptoms
열이 나요.: I have a fever. (열 = fever, 나다 = to come out) 기침이 나요.: I have a cough. 콧물이 나요.: I have a runny nose. (콧물 = nasal water) 토할 것 같아요.: I feel like I'm going to vomit. 어지러워요.: I'm dizzy. 피곤해요.: I'm tired/exhausted. 숨이 차요.: I'm short of breath. 눈이 가려워요.: My eyes are itchy. 피부가 간지러워요.: My skin is itchy.
At the pharmacy or clinic
약국이 어디예요?: Where is the pharmacy? 병원에 가야 해요.: I need to go to the hospital. 진통제 있어요?: Do you have painkillers? 처방전이 필요해요?: Do I need a prescription? 이 약 어떻게 먹어요?: How do I take this medicine?
Common medicines:
- 진통제: painkiller
- 해열제: fever reducer
- 감기약: cold medicine
- 소화제: digestive medicine
- 연고: ointment/cream
- 반창고: bandage/plaster
Asking someone how they feel
어디 아파요?: Where does it hurt? / Are you sick somewhere? 괜찮아요?: Are you okay? 몸이 어때요?: How is your body? / How are you feeling? 많이 나빠요?: Is it very bad? 좀 어때요? (더 나아졌어요?): How are you? (Are you feeling better?)
Korean medical culture notes
In Korea, you often visit a specialized clinic (내과 for internal medicine, 정형외과 for orthopedics) rather than a general practitioner. Medical fees are much lower than in the US or UK.
Korean pharmacists (약사) can advise on common ailments and sell OTC medications freely. For minor illness, the pharmacy is often the first stop, not a clinic.
Health vocabulary is practical and often urgent. You don't want to be searching your phone for "how to say 'I have chest pain'" in an emergency. Learn these expressions in advance.
A structured Korean course covers practical life vocabulary including health, transportation, and shopping as part of its everyday Korean curriculum.