Introduction/General phrases Chief complaint

Good morning (zao3 an1) What is/are your (ni3 you3 shen2 me)
Good afternoon (wu3 an1) problem/trouble? ? (wen4 ti2)
Good evening (wan3 an1) symptoms ? (zheng4 zhuang4)
How are you? (nin2 hao3 ma) When did it start? ?
Sir (xian1 sheng) (shen2 me shi2 hou4 kai1 shi)
Madam (tai4 tai) For how long? (duo1 jiu3)
Miss (xiao3 jie)
I am doctor _____. _____ Do you hurt anywhere? (ni2 you3 ren4
(wo3 shi4 _____ yi1 sheng1) he2 di4 fang1 jue2 de tong4 ma)
I am going to ask you some Where does it hurt? (na2 li3 tong4)
pertinent questions. (wo3 xian4 zai4 wen4 ni3 yi4 xie1 zhong4 Is the pain _____ or _____? ____? (tong4 shi4 __hai2 shi4__)
yao4 de wen4 ti2) continuous (chi2 xu4)
Name? (ming2 zi) intermittent (duan4 duan4 xu4 xu4)
How old are you? (nian2 ji4 duo1 da4)
sharp (zhen1 ci4 tong4)
Date of birth? (chu1 sheng1 ri4 chi2)
burning (zhuo2 re4 tong4)
dull (yin1 yin1 tong4)
Please (qing3) throbbing (ji4 dong4 tong4)
Thank you (xie4 xie) What makes your pain/condition / (you3 shen2 me
Youre welcome (bu2 xie4) shi3 ni3 de tong4 /qing2 xing2)
better? ? (hao3 xie4)
I dont know (wo3 bu4 zhi1 dao4)
worse? (huai4 xie4)
Please sign your permission here. (ni3 tong2 yi4 jiu4
Does the pain go anywhere? (tong4 hui4
zai4 zhe4 er2 qian1 ming2)
zou3 dao4 ling4 yi2 ge bu4 wei4 ma?)
Where? (na2 li3)
Today (jin1 tian1) Have you had any pain in _____? ___
Tomorrow (ming2 tian1) (ni3 ___ ceng2 jing1 tong4 guo4 ma)
Yesterday (zuo2 tian1)
Next/this/last // (xia4 ge/zhe4 ge/shang4 ge) Have you had this before?
Week (li3 bai4) (ni3 cong2 qian2 you3 guo zhe4 yang4 de
Month (yue4) qing2 xing2 ma)
Next/this/last // (ming2/jin1/qu4) How many times? (duo1 shao3 ci4)
Year (nian2) When? (shen2 me shi2 hou4)
Previous Health and Illnesses Previous Health and Illnesses (contd)

Is your health good? Mumps (sai1 xian4 yan2)

(ni3 jian4 kang1 hao3 ma) Yellow fever (huang2 re4 bing4)
Have you had any illness as an (ni3 cheng2 Typhus (ban1 zhen3 shang1 han2)
adult? nian2 zhi1 hou4, sheng1 guo4 bing4 ma)
What illness? (shen2 me bing4) Poliomyelitis (ji3 sui3 hui1 zhi4 yan2)
Do you have a family doctor? (ni2 you3 mei2 Smallpox (tian1 hua1)
you3 jia1 ting2 yi1 sheng1) Rubella (feng1 zhen3)
What is his ______? _______? (ta1 de ___ shi4 Pertussis (bai3 ri4 ke2)
shen2 me)
name (ming2 zi) Hepatitis B B (B xing2 gan1 yan2)
address (di4 zhi3)
telephone number (dian4 hua4 hao4 ma3) Have you ever had a serious
accident? (ni2 you3 mei2 you3 fa1 sheng1 guo4 yan2
Have you been hospitalized
before? zhong4 de yi4 wai4)
(ni2 you3 mei2 you3 zhu4 guo4 yi1 yuan4)
Were you unconscious? (ni3 you3 hun1 mi2 ma)
Which hospital? (na3 yi1 jia3 yi1 yuan4)
For how long? (duo1 jiu3)
Have you had any surgeries? (ni2 you3 mei2 you3
zuo4 guo4 shou3 shu4) Did you have a fracture? (ni2 you3 gu3 zhe2 ma)
Were you taken to a hospital?
Have you ever had:_____? _______ (ni2 you3 mei2 you3 jin4 yi1 yuan4)
(ni3 de2 guo4_______ ma) Which one? (na3 yi1 jia3)
Rheumatic fever (feng1 shi1 xing4 re4)
Malaria (ne4 ji2)
Obstetric/Gynecological (chan3 ke1) / (fu4 ke1)
Chickenpox (shui3 dou4)
How many times have you been
Cholera (huo4 luan4) pregnant? (ni3 huai2 yun4 duo1 shao3 ci4)
Have you had any____? _? (ni2 you3 mei2 you3 guo4)
Have you had the ________ _____ miscarriages
vaccine? (xiao3 chan3)
(ni2 zhu4 she4 guo4_____ yi4 miao2 ma) abortions (duo4 tai1)
Typhoid fever (shang1 han2)
How old were you when you
Diphtheria (bai2 hou2) started to menstruate? (ni2 ji3 sui4 kai1 shi3 yue4 jing1)
Tetanus (po4 shang1 feng1) Is your cycle always regular?
Measles (ma2 zhen3) (ni3 jing1 qi2 zheng4 chang3 ma)
Previous Health and Illnesses (contd) Allergies

When was your last period? Do you have any allergies to ___? _______
(ni3 zui4 hou4 yi2 ci4 yue4 jing1 shi shen2 (ni2 dui4 ___ you3 mei2 you3 guo4 min3)
me shi2 hou4) medicines (yao4)
Did you have any pain during food (shi2 wu4)
(yue4 jing1 de
your period? shi2 hou4, jue2 de tong4 ma) other things
(qi2 ta1 de dong1 xi1)
Do you have much, moderate, or (xie3 liu2 Which medicines/food? /(shen2 me yao4/shi2 wu4)
little bleeding? hen3 duo1, pu3 tong1, huo4 hen2 shao3)
What happens? (shen2 me fan3 ying4)
When did you stop having (ni3 shen2 me shi2
periods? hou4 ting2 jing1) Do you have rashes? (chu1 zhen3 ma)
Have you ever taken hormone ? (ni2 you3 mei2 Do you have trouble breathing? (hu1 xi1 kun4 nan2 ma)
replacements? you3 fu2 yong4 guo4 he2 er3 meng2) What antibiotics have you taken? ? (ni3 chi1 guo4 na3
For how long? (duo1 jiu3) yi1 zhong3 kang4 sheng1 su4)
Have you ever had ______? _______ Have you had penicillin?
(ni3 de2 guo4_______ ma) (ni3 chi1 guo4 pan2 ni2 xi1 lin2 ma)
gonorrhea (lin2 bing4) Have you ever had a ____? ___? (ni2 you3 mei2 you3)
syphilis (mei2 du2) blood transfusion (shu1 guo4 xie3)
anesthesias (da3 guo4 ma2 zui4 zhen1)
chlamydia (yi1 yuan2 ti3 shu3)
Did it produce a reaction?
other STD (qi2 ta1 xing4 bing4)
(you3 mei2 you3 fan3 ying4)
Did you receive any treatment? (ni2 you3 mei2
you3 jie1 shou4 zhi4 liao2)
With injections? (da3 zhen1) Medications
When was your last PAP smear? ? What medicines do you take? (ni3 chi1 shen2 me yao4)
(ni3 zui4 hou4 yi2 ci4 zi3 gong1 mo3
Do you take any___? __? (ni2 you3 mei2 you3 chi1)
pian4 shi4 shen2 me shi2 hou4)
vitamins (wei2 ta1 ming4)
Was it normal? (zheng4 chang2 ma) supplements (qi2 ta1 bu2 pin3)
Have you ever been tested for HIV/ herbs
(cao3 yao4)
HIV/AIDs? (ni2 you3 mei2 you3 zuo4 guo4 HIV/ai4
zi1 bing4 de jian3 yan4)
Family History Personal/Social History

Are your parents alive? (fu4 mu3 jian4 zai4 ma) Where were your born?
How old is he/she? ? (ni3 zai4 na3 er2 chu1 sheng1)
(ta1 duo1 da4 nian2 ji4) How long have you lived in ____
______? (ni3 zai4 ____ zhu4 le duo1 jiu3)
At what age did he/she die? (ta1
qu4 shi4 de shi2 hou4 duo1 da4 nian2 ji4) Are you _____ or _____? ____ ? (ni3__ hai2 shi4__)
What was the cause of death? (si3 wang2 yuan2 yin1) married (jie2 hun1)
single (dan1 sheng1)
Do you have brothers or sisters?
widowed
(ni3 you3 xiong1 di4 jie3 mei4 ma) (shou3 gua3)
divorced
How many (you3 ji3 ge) (li2 hun1)

Are they in good health? How is your marital life? (ni3 de hun1

yin1 sheng1 huo2 zen3 me yang4)
(ta1 men2 de jian4 kang1 hao3 ma)
Do you have children? (ni2 you3 hai2 zi ma)
Have any of your family had ___? _______ ?
How many? (ji3 ge)
(ni3 de jia1 ren2 you3 guo4 _____ ma)
Do you live alone or with other (ni3 du2 ju1
autoimmune disease relatives? hai2 shi4 he2 qin1 qi4 tong2 zhu4)
(zi4 shen1 mian3 yi4 de bing4)
How many persons live with you? (he2 ni3 tong2
allergy (guo4 min3 zheng4) zhu4 de you3 ji3 ge ren2)
diabetes (tang2 niao4 bing4 Who are they? (ta1 men2 shi4 shei2)
hypertension (gao1 xie4 ya1) How old is your ______? ___ (ni3 de2 ___ ji3 sui4)
heart trouble (xin1 zang4 bing4) Are they in good health?
cancer/tumor (ai2 zheng4) (ta1 men2 shen1 ti3 jian4 kang1 ma)

mental disorders (jing1 shen2 yi4 chang2)

any other disease What is your _____? ____
(ling4 wai4 de bing4)
(ni3 de ____ shi4 shen2 me)
Has there been any tuberculosis address
among your immediate family? (di4 zhi3)
(ni3 de jin4 qin1 you3 guo4 fei4 jie2 he2 telephone number
bing4 ma) (dian4 hua4 hao4 ma3)
Private house or apartment? (si1 ren2 zhu4
zhai2 hai2 shi4 gong1 yu4)
What floor? ? (di4 ji3 lou2)
What number? ? (hao4 ma3 shi4 shen2 me)
Walk-up or elevator? (zou3 shang4
qu4 hai2 shi4 zuo4 dian4 ti1)
Personal/Social History (contd) Personal/Social History (contd)
Do you work? (ni3 zuo4 shi4 ma) Do you sleep well? (ni3 shui4 de hao3 ma)
What kind of work do you do? ? How many hours? (ji3 ge zhong1 tou2)
(ni3 zuo4 na3 yi2 lei4 de2 gong1 zuo4)
Do you drink coffee or tea?
Were you ever exposed to __ at ____(ni3 gong1
work? (ni3 he1 ka1 fei1 huo4 cha2 ma)
zuo4 shang4 jie1 chu4 guo4____ ma)
chemicals (hua4 xue2 wu4 pin3) How much per day? (mei3 tian1 duo1 shao3)
dust (hui1 chen2) Do you smoke? ni3 chou1 yan1 ma
radiation
(fu2 she4) For how many years? (you3 duo1 shao3 nian2)
Do you drink? (ni3 he1 jiu3 ma)
Do you eat well? (ni3 chi1 de hao3 ma) Do you take illicit drugs?
Is your appetite good? (ni3 yong4 du2 pin3 ma)
(ni3 wei4 kou3 hao3 ma)
Do you exercise? (ni3 yun4 dong4 ma) Do you have many friends?
What is your average weight? (ni3 de ping2 (ni2 you3 hen3 duo1 peng2 you3 ma)
jun1 ti3 zhong4 shi4 duo1 shao3) Do you belong to any club, society,
What was your ______ weight? _____ (ni3 _____ or church? ? (ni3 shu3 yu2 ren4 ho2 ju4 le4 bu4,
de ti3 zhong4 shi4 duo1 shao3) she4 tuan2, huo4 jiao4 hui4 ma)
highest (zui4 zhong4)
lowest (zui4 qing1)
When did you start to ____ weight? __? (ni3 shen2
me shi2 hou4 kai1 shi3__ ti3 zhong4)
lose (jian3 qing1)
gain (zeng1 jia1)
What was the cause? (shen2 me yuan2 yin1)

Do you have a dog, cat, or other

animal? (ni3 yang3 gou3, mao1, huo4 qi2 ta1
dong4 wu4 ma)
Have you traveled recently?
(ni3 zui4 jin4 l3 xing2 guo4 ma)
Where? (qu4 na2 li3)
When? (shen2 me shi2 hou4)
For how long? (qu4 le duo1 jiu3)
Review of systems Spots (hei1 dian2)
Do you have these problems Flashes (shan3 liang4 guang1)
(ni3 you3 zhe1 xie1 de mao2 bing4 ma)
Do you have ______ [in your [ (location)] ______ (ni2 [de Ears (er3 duo)
(location)]?* ()] you3 ____ ma) Do you hear well? (ni3 ting1 de qing1 chu3
*symptoms listed not already in the form of a question can generally be placed within this sentence From both ears? ma?) (liang3 ge2
General er3 duo1 dou1 qing1 chu3 ma?)
Fever (fa shao1) Earache (er3 zhong1 teng2 tong4)
Sweats (chu1 han4) Discharge (fen1 bi4 wu4)
Chills (fa1 leng3) Tinnitus (er3 ming2)
Fatigue (pi2 lao2)
Weight change (ti3 zhong4 gai3 bian4)
Nose (bi2 zi)
Loss of appetite Nosebleeds (bi2 chu1 xie3)
(shi2 yu4 bu4 zhen4)
Runny nose (liu2 bi2 ti4)
Head (tou2) Stuffy nose (bi2 sai1)
Headaches (tou2 tong4) Sinus problems (bi2 dou4 mao2 bing4)
Do you feel ____? ____? (ni3 jue2 de2 __ ma) Change in smell (xiu4 jue2 gai3 bian4)
faint (yao4 yun1 dao3)
lightheaded/dizzy (tou2 hun1 yan3 hua1) Teeth/gums (ya2 chi3) / (ya2 chuang2)
Does the room seem to be (ni3 jue2 de Do you have trouble chewing
spinning? fang2 jian1 zai4 zhuan3 dong4 ma) food? (ju3 jue2 shi2 wu4 you3 kun4 nan2 ma)
Do you ever lose consciousness? Pain (tong4)
(ni3 shi1 qu4 guo4 zhi1 jue2 ma) Do your gums bleed?
(ni3 de ya2 chuang2 chu1 xie3 ma)
Eyes (yan3 jing1) Sores (chuang1)
Is your vision all right? (ni3 de shi4 li4 hao3 ma) When was your last dental x- x ?
Do you wear eyeglasses? (ni3 dai4 yan3 jing4 ma) ray? (ni3 zui4 hou4 yi2 ci4 ya2 chi3 zhao4 x
Any recent vision changes? guang1 zai4 shen2 me shi2 hou4
(zui4 jin4 shi4
li4 you3 ren4 he2 gai3 bian4 ma) Change in taste (wei4 jue2 gai3 bian4)
Do your eyes ever have ______? _______
(ni3 de yan3 jing1 you3 _____ ma) Throat (yan1 hou2)
Double vision (fu4 shi4) Sore throat (yan1 hou2 tong4)
Blurring (shi4 xian1 mo2 hu2) Tonsillitis (bian3 tao2 xian4 yan2)
Redness (hong2 yan3) Difficulty swallowing (tun1 yan1 kun4 nan2)
Discharge (fen1 bi4 wu4) Is/has your voice ___? __ ? (ni3 sheng1 yin1 you3 _ma)
Excess tearing (yan3 lei4 guo4 duo1) hoarse (si1 ya3)
changed (gai3 bian4)
Neck/ Lymph nodes (jing3)/ (lin2 ba1) Have you ever had an EKG? (zuo4 guo4 xin1 dian4
tu2 ma)
Stiff neck (jing3 bu4 jiang1 ying4)
Pain in the neck (jing3 bu4 teng2 tong4)
Lungs (fei4)
Any enlarged lymph nodes (ren4 he2 lin2 ba1 xian4
Do you have problems (hu1 xi1 kun4 nan2 ma)
zhong3 da4)
breathing?
When you breathe deeply, do (shen1
Breasts (ru3 fang2) you have pains in the chest? hu1 xi1 de shi2 hou4, xiong1 bu4 gan3
Pain (tong4) jue2 tong4 ma)
Lumps (ying4 kuai4) Cough (ke2 sou4)
Discharge (fen1 bi4 wu4) Hemoptysis (ke2 xie3)
When was your last x Sputum (tan2)
mammogram? (ni3 zui4 hou4 yi2 ci4 ru3 fang2 zhao4 x What color? ? (shen3 me2 yan2 se4)
guang1 shi shen2 me shi2 hou4) With blood? (you3 xie3 ma2)
Do you ever wheeze? ?(you3 qi4 chuan3 sheng1 ma)
Heart (xin1)
When was your last chest x-ray? x ?
Do you have pains or pressures (zui4 hou4 yi2 ci4 zhao4 xiong1 bu4 x
across the chest at times? (ni3 xiong1 bu4 you3 shi2 hui4 tong4 huo4 guang1 shi4 shen2 me shi2 hou4)
you3 ya1 li4 gan3 ma)
Palpitations (xin1 ji4) Gastro-intestinal (wei4 chang2)
Irregular heart beats (xin1 l4 bu4 zheng3) Heartburn (wei4 zhuo2 re4)
Do you have shortness of breath __________ (gan3 jue2 Constipation (bian4 bi4)
__________? hu1 xi1 duan3 cu4 ma)
on exertion Diarrhea (fu3 xie4)
(yong4 li4 qi4 de shi2 hou4)
at rest Abdominal/stomach pain / (du4 zi/wei4 tong4)
(xiu1 xi2 de shi2 hou4)
How many blocks can you walk Nausea (e3 xin1)

before becoming short of (ni3 zou3 guo4 ji3 ge jie1 kou3 zhi1 hou4 Vomiting (ou3 tu4)
breath? kai1 shi3 hu1 xi1 duan3 cu4) What color? ? (shen2 me2 yan2 se4)
Do you get short of breath lying (tang3 xia4 Do you vomit blood? (ou3 xie3 ma)
flat in bed? shi2 gan3 dao4 hu1 xi1 duan3 cu4 ma) Jaundice/yellowish skin color (huang2 dan3)
How many pillows do you sleep Blood in the stool (bian4 xie3)
on? (ni3 shui3 ji3 ge zhen3 tou2)
Is it very dark? (shen1 se4 ma)
Do you wake up nights short of ? Is it bright red? (xian1 hong2 ma)
breath and have to sit up? (you3 mei2 you3 ban4 ye4 xing3 lai2, hu1
xi1 duan3 cu4, bi4 xu1 zuo4 zhe) Black stools (hei1 fen4)
Do your ankles ever swell up? (liang3 zhi1 jiao3 Light colored stools (qian3 se4 fen4 bian4)
huai2 zhong3 zhang4 guo4 ma) Hemorrhoids (zhi4 chuang1)
Equally or one more than the ? (tong2 Parasites (ji4 sheng1 wu4)
other? yang4 zhong3, hai2 shi4 yi4 zhi4 bi3 jiao4
zhong3 xie4)
Genitourinary (sheng1 zhi2 bi4 niao4) Endocrine (nei4 fen1 bi4 xian4)
Burning on urination (pai2 niao4 zhuo2 tong4) Do you find that you prefer
Nocturia room temperatures cooler or (ni3 xiang3 shi4 wen1 bi3 qi2 ta1 de ren2
(ye4 niao4)
hotter than others? leng3 xie1 huo4 re4 xie1 ma)
Blood in the urine (xie3 niao4)
Have you had excess thirst?
Frequent urination (pin2 niao4)
(ni3 chang2 chang2 kou3 ke2 ma)
Trouble to start/stop urination (xiao3 bian4 kun4 nan2)
Facial edema (lian3 bu4 fu2 zhong3) Nervous system (shen2 jing1 xi4 tong3)
Vaginal discharge (yin1 dao4 fen1 bi4 wu4) Weakness (xu1 ruo4)
Paralysis (tan1 huan4)
Extremities (shou3 jiao3 si4 zhi1) Tingling (ma2 ci4 gan3)
Joints (guan1 jie2)
Numbness (ma2 mu4)
Do you have ____ in your legs? ____
Do you have problems feeling (dui4 leng3 re4
(shuang1 tui3 ceng2 jing1 _____ ma) hot or cold? de gan3 jue3 you3 kun4 nan2 ma)
cramps (chou1 jin1)
pains Tremor (fa1 dou3)
(teng2 tong4)
Clumsiness (ben4 zhuo2)
When you walk or at rest? (zou3 lu4 hai2
shi4 xiu1 xi2 de shi2 hou4) Loss of balance (shi1 qu4 ping2 heng2)
Do/Are your joints_____ ? __ (ni3 de guan1 jie2__ma) Trouble walking (zou3 lu4 kun4 nan2)
Ache (tong4) Slurred speech (kou3 chi3 bu4 qing1)
Get red (bian4 hong2) Loss of memory (sang4 shi1 ji4 yi4 li4)
Tender (yi4 mo1 jiu4 tong4) Unintentional leaking of urine (xiao3 bian4 shi1 jin4)
Swell
(zhong3)
Get stiff
(jiang1 ying4) Emotional (qing2 xu4)
Do you have back pain? (ni3 bei4 tong4 ma) Do you get along well with your (ni3 he2 qin1
relatives and friends? qi4 peng2 you3 xiang1 chu3 he3 mu4 ma)
Skin (pi2 fu1) Are you happy? (ni3 kai1 xin1 ma)
Color changes (yan2 se4 gai3 bian4) Do you often feel _____? ___
Rashes (zhen3) (ni3 chang2 gan3 jue2 ___ ma)
weak (xu1 ruo4)
Itchy (fa1 yang3) depressed (you1 yu4)
Do you have easy bruising or (rong2 yi4 yu1 nervous
bleeding (jin3 zhang1)
xie3 huo4 liu2 xie3 ma)
Do you have loss of interest in
activities that previously you (ni3 mei2 you3 xing4 qu4 can1 jia1 cong2
enjoyed? qian2 xiang3 shou4 guo4 de huo2 dong4
ma)
Do you have trouble sleeping? (ni3 shui4 jiao4 you3
kun4 nan2 ma)
Physical examination Body parts and organs

Please take your clothes off. (qing3 tuo1 yi1 fu) Abdomen du4 zi4 Lymph lin2 ba1 ye4
Ankle () jiao3 huai2 Mouth kou3
Please sit down. (qing3 zuo4) zui3
Appendix lan2 wei3
Lie down on your _____ side. Arm shou3 bi4 Muscle ji1 rou4
_____. (zai4 ni3 ___ tang3 xia4) ()
Artery dong4 mai4 Nails zhi2 jia3
right (you4 bian1)
Back bei4 Neck jing3
left (zuo3 bian1) Nerve shen2 jing1
Bladder pang2 guang1
Blood xie3 Nose bi2 zi
Lift your _______. _____ (ju3 qi3 ni3 de)
Blood vessel xie3 guan3 Ovary luan3 chao2
arm (shou3 bi4) Palm shou3 zhang3
Bone gu3 ge2
leg (tui3) Bonemarrow gu3 sui3 Pancreas yi2 xian4

hand. Brain nao3 Penis yin1 jing1
(shou3)
Breast ru3 fang2 Prostate qian2 lie4
Turn over on your _____. ____ xian4
Buttock tun2
Rectum zhi2 chang2
(zhuan3 guo4 lai2 ____ xiang4 xia4) Calf xiao3 tui3
Ribs lei4 gu3

stomach (du4 zi) Chest xiong1
Scrotum yin1 nang2
back Ear er3 duo
(bei4 ji2) Shoulder jian1 bang3
Elbow zhou3
Skin pi2 fu1
Relax. (fang4 song1) Esophagus shi2 guan3
Small xiao3 chang2
shi2 dao4
Look at ______. intestine
____ (kan4 zhe) Eyes yan3 jing1 Sole jiao3 di3
flashlight (shan3 guang1) Face lian3 Spinal ji3 sui3

my finger (wo3 de shou3 zhi3) Fingers shou3zhi3 cord
Foot jiao3 Spine ji3 zhui1 gu3
Open your mouth. (zhang1 kai1 zui3 ba1) Gall bladder dan3 nang2 Spleen pi2
Gums ya2 chuang2 Stomach wei4
Hold your breath. (ting2 zhi3 hu1 xi1)
Hair tou2 fa Teeth ya2 chi3
Breathe deeply. (shen1 hu1 xi1) Hand shou3 Tendon jin1
Head tou2 Testis gao1 wan2
Point to the spot where you have Heart xin1 zang4
() Thigh da4 tui3
the pain. (tong4 de di4 fang1 zhi3 gei2 wo3 kan4) Hip tun2 bu4 Throat yan1 ho2
Does it hurt when I press here? Joint guan1 jie2 Thyroid jia3 zhuang4
(an4 zhe4 li3 tong4 ma)
Kidneys shen4 xian4
Does the pain move from this Knee xi1 Tongue she2 tou2
spot to other spots? Large da4 chang2 Tonsils bian3 tao2
(tong4 de bu4 wei4 hui4 zhuan3 yi2 ma)
intestine xian4
Is the pain worse when I press or Leg tui3 Trachea qi4 guan3
let go suddenly? (wo3 ya1 xia4 qu4 de shi2 hou4 tong4 Ligament ren4 dai4 Uterus zi3 gong1
xie1 hai2 shi4 tu1 ran2 fang4 kai1 shou3 Liver gan1 Urethra niao4 dao4
tong4 xie1) Lungs fei4 Vagina yin1 dao4
Lymph lin2 ba1 Vein jing4mai4
Take a few steps back and forth. nodes Waist yao1
(qian2 hou4 ge4 zou3 ji3 bu4) Wrist shou3 wan4
Common diseases Common diseases (contd)
Respiratory disease (hu1 xi1 dao4 bing4) Endocrine (nei4 fen1 bi4 xian4)
Asthma (qi4 chuan3 bing4) Diabetes (tang2 niao4 bing4)
Hay fever (ku1 cao3 re4) Thyroid disease (jia3 zhuang4 xian4 bing4)
Cold (gan3 mao4)
Sinusitis (bi2 dou4 yan2) Hematology (xie3 ye4 xue2)
Laryngitis (hou2 yan2) Oncology (zhong3 liu2 xue2)
Bronchitis (zhi1 qi4 guan3 yan2) Anemia (pin2 xie3)
Pneumonia (fei4 yan2) Cancer (ai2 zheng4)
Emphysema (fei4 qi4 zhong3) Leukemia (bai2 xie2 bing4)
Lymphoma (lin2 ba1 liu2)
Cardiovascular disease (xin1 xie3 guan3 bing4)
Heart disease (xin1 zang4 bing4) Neurological disease (nao3 shen2 jing1 bing4)
Coronary heart disease (guan4 xin1 bing4) Migraines (pian1 tou2 tong4)
Myocardial infarction (xin1 ji1 geng3 si3) Seizures/convulsions (fa1 zuo4) / (chou1 chu4)
Heart failure (xin1 zang4 shuai1 jie2) Stroke (zhong4 feng1)
Hypercholesterolemia Dementia (chi1 dai1 bing4)
(gao1 dan3 gu4 chun2 xie3 zheng4) Meningitis (nao3 mo4 yan2)
Hypertension (blood pressure) (gao1 xue4 ya1)
Psychiatric disease (jing1 shen2 bing4)
Gastrointestinal disease (chang2 wei4 bing4) Depression (you1 yu4 zheng4)
Reflux/heartburn (wei4 zhuo2 re4) Mania (zao4 kuang2 zheng4)
Ulcer (kui4 yang2) Schizophrenia (jing1 shen2 fen1 lie4 zheng4)
Gallstones (dan3 shi2)
Gallbladder disease (dan3 nang2 bing4) Eye (yan3 jing1)
Hepatitis (gan1 yan2) Glaucoma (qing1 guang1 yan3)
Liver disease (gan1 bing4) Cataract (bai2 nei4 zhang4)
Pancreatitis (yi2 xian4 yan2)
Appendicitis (lan2 wei3 yan2) Skin (pi1 fu1)
Gastroenteritis (chang2 wei4 yan2 Ezcema (shi1 zhen3)
Inflammatory bowel disease Psoriasis (gan1 xian3)
(yan2 xing4 chang2 dao4 ji2 bing4)
Joints (guan1 jie2)
Renal (shen4 zang4 bing4) Arthritis (guan1 jie2 yan2)
Kidney stones (shen4 shi2)
Pyelonephritis (shen4 yu2 shen4 yan2) General Infectious (gan2 ran3)
Urinary tract infection (niao4 dao4 xi4 tong3 yan2) Flu (liu2 xing2 xing4 gan3 mao4)
Benign prostatic hypertrophy (liang2 xing4 qian2 Tuberculosis (fei4 jie2 he2)
lie4 xian4 fei2 da4 zheng4) HIV/AIDS HIV/ (ai4 zi1 bing4)
Guide to pinyin

Final Sounds Initial sounds

a ah as in father b2 ball
ai eye c1 ts as in its
an ahn as in fianc ch1,3 church
ang ahng d date
ao ow as in how f fork
ar bar g2 girl
e o as in oh when not a h1 her
diphthong j jee as in jeep
e a as in say when in a k1 kurt
diphthong l let English-Chinese
en un" as in under m more
eng ung as in lung n nice
ei eight p1 pop Outline for Medical Histories
er her q chee as in cheese
i ea as in eat r rubber
i sir when in syllables s sit (Mandarin-Simplified)
beginning with c, ch, r, sh3 shirt
s, sh, z, and zh t1 tell
in bin v used only for foreign words
ing sing w want
o aw as in law x shee as in sheep
ou oe as in hoe y yet
u oo as in too z ds as in reads
ue diphthong i as in ship zh3 j as in jump

ui diphthong wee 1
strongly aspirated
2
not aspirated
un fun 3
put tip of tongue to roof of mouth

Tone Mark Description

1 d High and level.
2 d Starts medium in tone, then rises to the top.
3 d Starts low, dips to the bottom, then rises toward the top.
4 d Starts at the top, then falls sharp and strong to the bottom.
Neutral da Flat, with no emphasis.

Useful websites
www.esaurus.org: online English-Chinese medical dictionary, but does not have Compiled by
pinyin available. Also contains a drug glossary. Amy C. Lee
www.xuezhongwen.net: online English-Chinese dictionary, includes Mandarin Alice S. Lee
pinyin and Yale Cantonese
www.chinawestexchange.com: includes interactive online Cantonese and Version 1.0
Mandarin lessons with sound files. Last modified 6/12/2005
I compiled this set of pamphlets after finding few resources to help healthcare
professionals seeking to learn medical Chinese. The purpose of these pamphlets
is to help the medical interviewer learn to conduct a simple but thorough history
and physical examination in Chinese. This compilation includes a combination
of words, simple phrases, and intermediate-level-sentences, arranged under
sections for taking a medical history and for physical examination, as well as a
glossary of body parts/organs and common diseases. Some knowledge of basic
Chinese and romanization is helpful.

Versions are available in Mandarin (simplified and traditional characters, with

Hanyu pinyin) and Cantonese (traditional characters, with Yale Cantonese
romanization).

Translations have been done with patient conversation in mind. This pamphlet
is not meant to provide translation of technical medical terminology.

If you should find any inaccuracies, please contact me at

medicalchinese@gmail.com. I am considering creating a website with audio
available to aid in learning. If you would find this useful, please let me know.

I hope that you will find the pamphlets useful in helping your Chinese patients
who speak little or no English.

Amy C. Lee

Disclaimer: We assume no responsibility or liability for any inaccuracies or

miscommunication resulting from the use of this pamphlet. This pamphlet was
created as a reference, and cannot and should not be substituted for a skilled
interpreter.