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Korean Pharmacy Phrases: Symptoms, Questions, and Medicine Instructions
Level
A1
Type
phrase
Theme
Travel
작성자
Y
작성시각
At a Korean pharmacy, begin with your symptom—not just 약 주세요 ("Please give me medicine"). Say 목이 아파요. 이런 증상에 먹을 약이 있나요?: "My throat hurts. Is there medicine for these symptoms?"
Then tell the pharmacist about allergies and medicines you already take. Before leaving, confirm how much to take, when to take it, and whether it causes drowsiness. This guide helps you communicate; it does not diagnose symptoms or replace advice from a medical professional.
Find a pharmacy
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
약국 | yak-guk | pharmacy |
지금 문 연 약국이 어디예요? | ji-geum mun yeon yak-gu-gi eo-di-ye-yo? | Where is a pharmacy that is open now? |
가까운 약국이 어디예요? | ga-kka-un yak-gu-gi eo-di-ye-yo? | Where is the nearest pharmacy? |
Look for the word 약국. For pharmacies and medical facilities that are open, Korea's official E-GEN search lists locations and advises users to confirm operating hours by phone before visiting.
Start with the symptom
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
머리가 아파요. | meo-ri-ga a-pa-yo | My head hurts. |
목이 아파요. | mo-gi a-pa-yo | My throat hurts. |
배가 아파요. | bae-ga a-pa-yo | My stomach hurts. |
열이 있어요. | yeo-ri i-sseo-yo | I have a fever. |
기침이 나요. | gi-chi-mi na-yo | I have a cough. |
콧물이 나요. | kon-mu-ri na-yo | I have a runny nose. |
설사를 해요. | seol-sa-reul hae-yo | I have diarrhea. |
피부가 가려워요. | pi-bu-ga ga-ryeo-wo-yo | My skin is itchy. |
Show the painful area while you speak. If the symptoms are difficult to explain, write when they started and show a translation on your phone.
After the symptom, ask:
이런 증상에 먹을 약이 있나요?
Is there medicine for these symptoms?
Is there medicine for these symptoms?
This gives the pharmacist more information than 약 주세요 alone.
What the pharmacist may ask
Korean | Pronunciation | What they are asking |
어디가 불편하세요? | eo-di-ga bul-pyeon-ha-se-yo? | What is bothering you? |
언제부터 그랬어요? | eon-je-bu-teo geu-rae-sseo-yo? | Since when has it been like this? |
열이 있나요? | yeo-ri in-na-yo? | Do you have a fever? |
알레르기 있으세요? | al-le-reu-gi i-sseu-se-yo? | Do you have any allergies? |
지금 먹는 약 있으세요? | ji-geum meong-neun yak i-sseu-se-yo? | Are you taking any medicine now? |
처방전 있으세요? | cheo-bang-jeon i-sseu-se-yo? | Do you have a prescription? |
For 언제부터, answer with a time:
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
오늘 아침부터요. | o-neul a-chim-bu-teo-yo | Since this morning. |
어제부터요. | eo-je-bu-teo-yo | Since yesterday. |
사흘 전부터요. | sa-heul jeon-bu-teo-yo | Since three days ago. |
Say allergies and current medicines clearly
Do not rely on a general sentence if the detail affects what you can take. Show the exact allergy, active ingredient, prescription, or medicine package when possible.
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
저는 ___ 알레르기가 있어요. | jeo-neun ___ al-le-reu-gi-ga i-sseo-yo | I am allergic to ___. |
이 성분에 알레르기가 있어요. | i seong-bu-ne al-le-reu-gi-ga i-sseo-yo | I am allergic to this ingredient. |
지금 이 약을 먹고 있어요. | ji-geum i ya-geul meok-go i-sseo-yo | I am taking this medicine now. |
같이 먹어도 괜찮아요? | ga-chi meo-geo-do gwaen-cha-na-yo? | Is it okay to take them together? |
임신 중이에요. | im-sin jung-i-e-yo | I am pregnant. |
In Korean, 약을 먹다 literally uses the verb "eat," but it means "take medicine." Let the pharmacist check interactions and suitability; do not guess from the packaging alone.
Questions to ask before you leave
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
하루에 몇 번 먹어요? | ha-ru-e myeot beon meo-geo-yo? | How many times a day do I take it? |
한 번에 몇 알 먹어요? | han beo-ne myeot al meo-geo-yo? | How many pills do I take each time? |
언제 먹어요? | eon-je meo-geo-yo? | When do I take it? |
식전에 먹어요, 식후에 먹어요? | sik-jeo-ne meo-geo-yo, sik-hu-e meo-geo-yo? | Before or after meals? |
졸릴 수 있어요? | jol-lil su i-sseo-yo? | Can it make me drowsy? |
주의할 점이 있어요? | ju-ui-hal jeo-mi i-sseo-yo? | Is there anything I should be careful about? |
Ask the pharmacist to write it down if you are unsure:
여기 적어 주실 수 있을까요?
Could you write it here?
Could you write it here?
Read common medicine instructions
Korean | Meaning |
1일 3회 | three times a day |
1회 1정 | one tablet each time |
식전 | before a meal |
식후 | after a meal |
취침 전 | before sleeping |
졸음 주의 | caution: may cause drowsiness |
These labels help you recognize the instructions, but confirm the full directions with the pharmacist. Do not infer a dose from one word or number.
A complete pharmacy exchange
You: 목이 아프고 기침이 나요. 어제부터 그랬어요.
Pharmacist: 알레르기 있으세요? 지금 먹는 약 있으세요?
You: 이 성분에 알레르기가 있어요. 지금 먹는 약은 없어요.
You: 하루에 몇 번 먹어요? 졸릴 수 있어요?
Pharmacist: 하루에 세 번, 식후에 드세요.
You: 여기 적어 주실 수 있을까요?
Pharmacist: 알레르기 있으세요? 지금 먹는 약 있으세요?
You: 이 성분에 알레르기가 있어요. 지금 먹는 약은 없어요.
You: 하루에 몇 번 먹어요? 졸릴 수 있어요?
Pharmacist: 하루에 세 번, 식후에 드세요.
You: 여기 적어 주실 수 있을까요?
Listen for the question, answer with specific information, and repeat the dosing instructions back if needed.
When a pharmacy is not enough
Call 119 for an ambulance in a medical emergency. Useful Korean includes 숨쉬기 힘들어요 ("It is hard to breathe"), 의식이 없어요 ("They are unconscious"), and 구급차 보내 주세요 ("Please send an ambulance"). Korea's official tourism guidance lists 119 for fire and ambulance emergencies and 112 for police emergencies: Emergency Situations in Korea.
For a simple pharmacy visit, remember the sequence: state the symptom, say when it started, disclose allergies and current medicines, and confirm the directions. Those four steps matter more than using perfect Korean.