100+ Most Common Medical Terms in Chinese You Need to Know

Knowing some basic medical terms in Chinese can be incredibly helpful. Whether you need to describe your symptoms, ask for medical assistance, or read a prescription, having the right vocabulary makes communication much easier. This list of over 100 essential medical terms in Chinese is not only a valuable resource for students but also a practical guide for anyone who may encounter Chinese healthcare settings. Let’s explore the most common medical vocabulary together with Ni Hao Ma!

Medical Vocabulary in Chinese

To help you study systematically, Ni Hao Ma has compiled and organized the most common medical terms in Chinese into smaller groups. Each term comes with its Chinese characters, pinyin, and clear meaning in English.

Chinese Medical Terms for Types of Hospitals

There are many different types of hospitals, each with its own function, responsibilities, and specialties to meet the diverse healthcare needs of the public. For example, general hospitals can treat a wide variety of diseases (like Bach Mai Hospital or Cho Ray Hospital), while specialized hospitals focus on a specific field (such as children’s hospitals or oncology hospitals). Hospitals can also be categorized as public or private based on management and funding.

ChinesePinyinMeaning
医院yīyuànHospital
综合医院zōnghé yīyuànGeneral hospital
专科医院zhuānkē yīyuànSpecialized hospital
儿童医院értóng yīyuànChildren’s hospital
妇产医院fùchǎn yīyuànMaternity hospital
精神病医院jīngshénbìng yīyuànPsychiatric hospital
口腔医院kǒuqiāng yīyuànDental hospital
眼科医院yǎnkē yīyuànEye hospital
中医医院zhōngyī yīyuànTraditional Chinese medicine hospital
传染病医院chuánrǎnbìng yīyuànInfectious disease hospital
急救中心jíjiù zhōngxīnEmergency center
康复医院kāngfù yīyuànRehabilitation hospital
军队医院jūnduì yīyuànMilitary hospital
私立医院sīlì yīyuànPrivate hospital
公立医院gōnglì yīyuànPublic hospital
诊所zhěnsuǒClinic
骨科医院gǔkē yīyuànOrthopedic hospital

Chinese Medical Terms for Hospital Departments

According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Health regulations, a first-class general hospital typically has the following departments. These medical terms in Chinese will help you navigate hospital facilities and services more confidently.

ChinesePinyinMeaning
诊室zhěnshìOutpatient clinic
急诊科jízhěn kēEmergency department
内科nèikēInternal medicine
心内科xīn nèikēCardiology
消化内科xiāohuà nèikēGastroenterology
风湿免疫科fēngshī miǎnyì kēRheumatology
肾脏内科shènzàng nèikēNephrology
内分泌科nèifēnmì kēEndocrinology
过敏反应科guòmǐn fǎnyìng kēAllergy
血液科xuèyè kēHematology
感染科gǎnrǎn kēInfectious diseases
结核科jiéhé kēTuberculosis
皮肤科pífū kēDermatology
神经内科shénjīng nèikēNeurology
精神科jīngshén kēPsychiatry
中医科zhōngyī kēTraditional Chinese medicine
老年病科lǎonián bìng kēGeriatrics
儿科érkēPediatrics
外科wàikēSurgery
神经外科shénjīng wàikēNeurosurgery
胸外科xiōng wàikēThoracic surgery
普通外科pǔtōng wàikēGeneral surgery
泌尿外科mìniào wàikēUrology
骨科gǔkēOrthopedics
烧伤科shāoshāng kēBurn unit
麻醉科mázuì kēAnesthesiology
妇产科fùchǎn kēObstetrics and gynecology
耳鼻喉科ěr bí hóu kēENT (Ear, Nose & Throat)
口腔科kǒuqiāng kēDentistry
眼科yǎnkēOphthalmology
物理治疗与康复科wùlǐ zhìliáo yǔ kāngfù kēPhysical therapy & rehabilitation
核医学科hé yīxué kēNuclear medicine
输血科shūxuè kēTransfusion medicine
血液透析室xuèyè tòuxī shìHemodialysis unit
生化科shēnghuà kēBiochemistry
微生物科wēishēngwù kēMicrobiology
影像诊断科yǐngxiàng zhěnduàn kēRadiology
功能检查科gōngnéng jiǎnchá kēFunctional testing
内镜室nèijìng shìEndoscopy
病理科bìnglǐ kēPathology
消毒供应中心xiāodú gōngyìng zhōngxīnSterilization center
药剂科yàojì kēPharmacy
营养科yíngyǎng kēNutrition
medical terms in chinese mandarin

Chinese Medical Vocabulary for Hospital Roles

Understanding hospital roles is crucial when learning medical terms in Chinese, especially for those who plan to study or work in healthcare environments in China. These terms are not only useful for medical students and professionals but also for anyone who may need medical assistance abroad.

ChinesePinyinMeaning
院长yuànzhǎngHospital Director
副院长fù yuànzhǎngDeputy Director
科主任kē zhǔrènDepartment Head
副主任fù zhǔrènDeputy Head of Department
医生yīshēngDoctor
护士hùshìNurse
护理长hùlǐ zhǎngHead Nurse
药剂师yàojìshīPharmacist
住院医生zhùyuàn yīshēngResident Doctor
外科医生wàikē yīshēngSurgeon
儿科医生érkē yīshēngPediatrician
助产士zhùchǎnshìMidwife
化验师huàyànshīLaboratory Technician
影像技师yǐngxiàng jìshīRadiology Technician
行政人员xíngzhèng rényuánAdministrative Staff
救护车司机jiùhùchē sījīAmbulance Driver

Medical Terms in Chinese for Common Symptoms

Learning Chinese medical vocabulary for symptoms is extremely helpful in real-life situations. For medical students and professionals, it supports research, study, and communication with international colleagues. For travelers or patients in China, knowing these terms can help describe health conditions clearly and ensure accurate diagnosis from doctors.

ChinesePinyinMeaning
头疼tóuténgHeadache
发烧fāshāoFever
咳嗽késouCough
流鼻涕liú bítìRunny nose
喉咙痛hóulóng tòngSore throat
胸闷xiōngmènChest tightness
气喘qìchuǎnShortness of breath, Wheezing
心悸xīnjìPalpitations, Rapid heartbeat
恶心ěxīnNausea
呕吐ǒutùVomiting
腹泻fùxièDiarrhea
便秘biànmìConstipation
腹痛fùtòngStomachache
背痛bèitòngBack pain
关节痛guānjié tòngJoint pain
肌肉酸痛jīròu suāntòngMuscle soreness
头晕tóuyūnDizziness
失眠shīmiánInsomnia
疲劳píláoFatigue
出汗chūhànSweating
盗汗dàohànNight sweats
耳鸣ěrmíngTinnitus (ringing in ears)
视力模糊shìlì móhuBlurred vision
流泪liúlèiWatery eyes
皮疹pízhěnRash
瘙痒sàoyǎngItching
出血chūxuèBleeding
麻木mámùNumbness
抽筋chōujīnCramp
虚弱xūruòWeakness
hospital vocabulary in chinese
ChinesePinyinMeaning
感冒gǎnmàoCold
发冷fālěngChills
食欲不振shíyù bùzhènLoss of appetite
消化不良xiāohuà bùliángIndigestion
胃胀wèizhàngBloating
胃酸wèisuānAcid reflux
打嗝dǎgéHiccups
胃痛wèitòngStomach pain
小便频繁xiǎobiàn pínfánFrequent urination
尿急niào jíUrinary urgency
尿痛niào tòngPainful urination
血尿xuèniàoBlood in urine
月经不调yuèjīng bùtiáoIrregular menstruation
痛经tòngjīngMenstrual cramps
不孕bùyùnInfertility
幻觉huànjuéHallucination
抑郁yìyùDepression
焦虑jiāolǜAnxiety
易怒yìnùIrritability
记忆力减退jìyìlì jiǎntuìMemory loss
手抖shǒu dǒuHand tremor
走路不稳zǒulù bùwěnUnsteady walking
皮肤苍白pífū cāngbáiPale skin
黄疸huángdǎnJaundice
脱发tuōfàHair loss
水肿shuǐzhǒngEdema (swelling)
淋巴结肿大línbā jié zhǒngdàSwollen lymph nodes
伤口化脓shāngkǒu huànóngInfected wound
呼吸困难hūxī kùnnánBreathing difficulty
昏迷hūnmíComa

Medical Terms in Chinese: Common Diseases

If you are planning to travel, study, or work in a Chinese-speaking country, learning medical terms in Chinese for diseases is essential. This vocabulary will not only help you communicate effectively in hospitals and clinics but also prove extremely useful in emergencies. Here’s a list of common diseases in Chinese with pinyin and meanings:

ChinesePinyinMeaning
感冒gǎnmàoCommon cold
流行性感冒liúxíng gǎnmàoSeasonal flu
登革热dēngérèDengue fever
疟疾nüèjíMalaria
肺炎fèiyánPneumonia
咽喉炎yānhóuyánPharyngitis (sore throat infection)
鼻窦炎bídòu yánSinusitis
支气管炎zhīqìguǎn yánBronchitis
哮喘xiāochuǎnAsthma
胃炎wèiyánGastritis
肠炎chángyánEnteritis
食物中毒shíwù zhòngdúFood poisoning
阑尾炎lánwěiyánAppendicitis
高血压gāo xuèyāHypertension (high blood pressure)
心脏病xīnzàngbìngHeart disease
糖尿病tángniàobìngDiabetes
肝炎gānyánHepatitis
肝硬变gānyìngbiànCirrhosis
肾结石shèn jiéshíKidney stones
湿疹shīzhěnEczema
麻疹mázhěnMeasles
霍乱huòluànCholera
梅毒méi dúSyphilis
癌症áizhèngCancer
肿瘤zhǒngliúTumor
甲亢jiǎkàngHyperthyroidism
贫血pínxuèAnemia
骨折gǔzhéBone fracture
扭伤niǔshāngSprain
过敏guòmǐnAllergy
精神病jīngshénbìngMental illness
焦虑症jiāolǜ zhèngAnxiety disorder
抑郁症yìyù zhèngDepression
自闭症zìbìzhèngAutism
脑膜炎nǎomóyánMeningitis
hospital and medical vocabulary
ChinesePinyinMeaning
心脏病xīnzàngbìngHeart disease
心肌梗塞xīnjī gěngsèMyocardial infarction (heart attack)
冠心病guānxīnbìngCoronary heart disease
白化病báihuàbìngAlbinism
高血脂gāo xuèzhīHyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)
脑卒中nǎozúzhòngStroke
帕金森病pàjīnsēn bìngParkinson’s disease
阿尔茨海默病āěrcíhǎimò bìngAlzheimer’s disease
腰椎间盘突出yāozhuī jiānpán tūchūHerniated disc
关节炎guānjiéyánArthritis
类风湿lèifēngshīRheumatism
痛风tòngfēngGout
白内障báinèizhàngCataract
青光眼qīngguāngyǎnGlaucoma
近视jìnshìNearsightedness (myopia)
远视yuǎnshìFarsightedness (hyperopia)
结膜炎jiémóyánConjunctivitis
肾炎shènyánNephritis
尿毒症niàodúzhèngUremia (chronic kidney failure)
前列腺炎qiánlièxiànyánProstatitis
子宫肌瘤zǐgōng jīliúUterine fibroids
脂肪肝zhīfánggānFatty liver disease
乳腺癌rǔxiàn áiBreast cancer
甲状腺疾病jiǎzhuàngxiàn jíbìngThyroid disease
骨质疏松gǔzhì shūsōngOsteoporosis
艾滋病àizībìngAIDS
肺结核fèi jiéhéTuberculosis
腮腺炎sāixiànyánMumps
水痘shuǐdòuChickenpox
手足口病shǒuzúkǒu bìngHand, foot, and mouth disease
牛皮癣niúpíxuǎnPsoriasis
不孕不育bùyùn bùyùInfertility
结肠炎jiéchángyánColitis

Medical Terms in Chinese: Medical Equipment

ChinesePinyinMeaning
听诊器tīngzhěnqìStethoscope
体温计tǐwēnjìThermometer
血压计xuèyā jìBlood pressure monitor
注射器zhùshèqìSyringe
注射针头zhùshè zhēntóuInjection needle
手术刀shǒushù dāoScalpel
手术剪刀shǒushù jiǎndāoSurgical scissors
绷带bēngdàiBandage
胶布jiāobùMedical tape
医用口罩yīyòng kǒuzhàoMedical mask
医用手套yīyòng shǒutàoMedical gloves
消毒脱脂棉花xiāodú tuōzhīmián huāSterile cotton
担架dānjiàStretcher
轮椅lúnyǐWheelchair
病床bìngchuángHospital bed
诊断床zhěnduàn chuángExamination bed
医药箱yīyào xiāngFirst aid kit / Medicine box
急救箱jíjiù xiāngEmergency kit
输液泵shūyè bèngInfusion pump
超声波机chāoshēngbō jīUltrasound machine
X光机X guāng jīX-ray machine
CT扫描仪CT sǎomiáoyíCT scanner
显微镜xiǎnwéijìngMicroscope
呼吸机hūxī jīVentilator
氧气瓶yǎngqì píngOxygen tank
压舌板yā shé bǎnTongue depressor
叩诊槌kòuzhěn chuíReflex hammer
缝线fèngxiànSurgical suture
监护仪jiānhù yíPatient monitor
视力表shìlì biǎoEye chart
chinese vocabulary about hospital
ChinesePinyinMeaning
胃镜wèijìngGastroscope
结肠镜jiéchángjìngColonoscope
核磁共振成像仪hémó gòngzhèn chéngxiàng yíMRI scanner
CT扫描机CT sǎomiáo jīCT scanner
心电图机xīndiàntú jīElectrocardiograph (ECG machine)
除颤器chúchànqìDefibrillator
手术钳shǒushù qiánSurgical forceps
镊子nièziTweezers
止血钳zhǐxuè qiánHemostatic forceps
敷料fūliàoMedical dressing
纱布shābùGauze
纱布垫shābù diànGauze pad
药棉yàomiánMedical cotton
棉签miánqiānCotton swab
导管dǎoguǎnCatheter
输液架shūyè jiàIV stand
助听器zhùtīngqìHearing aid
拐杖guǎizhàngCrutches
医用床单yīyòng chuángdānMedical bed sheet
手术服shǒushù fúSurgical gown
白大褂báidàguàWhite coat (doctor’s coat)
医用秤yīyòng chèngMedical scale
氧气面罩yǎngqì miànzhàoOxygen mask
肾脏透析机shènzàng tòuxījīDialysis machine
离心机líxīnjīCentrifuge
试管shìguǎnTest tube

Common Medical Activities in Chinese

ChinesePinyinMeaning
看病kànbìngTo see a doctor
挂号guàhàoTo register (for consultation)
候诊hòuzhěnTo wait for consultation
问诊wènzhěnMedical inquiry / Taking patient history
量体温liáng tǐwēnTo measure body temperature
诊断zhěnduànDiagnosis
量血压liáng xuèyāTo measure blood pressure
听诊tīngzhěnAuscultation (listening with stethoscope)
抽血chōuxuèTo draw blood
化验huàyànLaboratory test
检查jiǎncháExamination / Check-up
拍X光pāi X guāngTo take an X-ray
做CTzuò CTTo do a CT scan
做B超zuò B chāoTo do an ultrasound
开处方kāi chùfāngTo prescribe medicine
买药mǎi yàoTo buy medicine
打针dǎzhēnTo get an injection
吃药chī yàoTo take medicine (orally)
输液shūyèTo receive IV infusion
手术shǒushùSurgery
麻醉mázuìAnesthesia
缝合fénghéTo suture (stitch a wound)
换药huànyàoTo change the dressing
消毒xiāodúDisinfection
输血shūxuèBlood transfusion
复查fùcháFollow-up check
康复kāngfùRehabilitation / Recovery
住院zhùyuànHospitalization
出院chūyuànDischarge from hospital

You may also be interested in: A Complete List of Chinese Vocabulary for Human Body Parts

Sample Dialogues with Medical Terms In Chinese

In the medical environment, accurate communication between doctors and patients is extremely important. The following sample dialogues will help you get familiar with medical terms in Chinese, including situations of medical examination, getting medicine, and regular health check-ups.

Dialogue 1: Initial Consultation

A: 你哪里不舒服?
(Nǐ nǎlǐ bù shūfú?)
Where do you feel unwell?

B: 我这几天一直咳嗽,还有点发烧。
(Wǒ zhè jǐ tiān yīzhí késòu, hái yǒu diǎn fāshāo.)
I’ve been coughing these past few days, and I also have a slight fever.

A: 你有呼吸困难吗?
(Nǐ yǒu hūxī kùnnán ma?)
Do you have difficulty breathing?

B: 有一点,晚上更严重。
(Yǒu yīdiǎn, wǎnshàng gèng yánzhòng.)
A little, and it gets worse at night.

A: 你有没有过敏史?对药物或者食物过敏吗?
(Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu guòmǐn shǐ? Duì yàowù huòzhě shíwù guòmǐn ma?)
Do you have a history of allergies? Are you allergic to any medicines or foods?

B: 没有,我以前身体比较健康。
(Méiyǒu, wǒ yǐqián shēntǐ bǐjiào jiànkāng.)
No, I used to be quite healthy.

A: 好的,我建议你做个胸部X光和血液检查,以便确诊。
(Hǎo de, wǒ jiànyì nǐ zuò gè xiōngbù X guāng hé xuèyè jiǎnchá, yǐbiàn quèzhěn.)
Alright, I suggest you do a chest X-ray and a blood test for an accurate diagnosis.

chinese vocabulary about medical

Dialogue 2: Collecting Medicine at the Pharmacy

A: 您的处方在这里,请您核对一下名字和药品。
(Nín de chǔfāng zài zhèlǐ, qǐng nín héduì yīxià míngzì hé yàopǐn.)
Here’s your prescription. Please check your name and the medicines.

B: 好的,这些药怎么吃?
(Hǎo de, zhèxiē yào zěnme chī?)
Okay, how should I take these medicines?

A: 这个每天三次,每次一片;那个饭后吃。
(Zhège měitiān sān cì, měi cì yī piàn; nàgè fànhòu chī.)
Take this one three times a day, one tablet each time; the other should be taken after meals.

B: 如果我忘记吃药怎么办?
(Rúguǒ wǒ wàngjì chī yào zěnme bàn?)
What should I do if I forget to take my medicine?

A: 想起来的时候尽快补服,但不要一次吃两倍剂量。
(Xiǎng qǐlái de shíhòu jǐnkuài bǔ fú, dàn bùyào yīcì chī liǎng bèi jìliàng.)
Take it as soon as you remember, but don’t double the dose.

B: 明白了,有什么副作用吗?
(Míngbái le, yǒu shénme fùzuòyòng ma?)
Got it. Are there any side effects?

A: 可能会有点嗜睡,如果严重不适要立刻停药并联系医生。
(Kěnéng huì yǒudiǎn shìshuì, rúguǒ yánzhòng búshì yào lìkè tíngyào bìng liánxì yīshēng.)
It may cause slight drowsiness. If you feel severe discomfort, stop taking it immediately and contact your doctor.

hospital and medical terms in chinese

Dialogue 3: Regular Health Check-Up

A: 你的血压有点高,平时饮食注意吗?
(Nǐ de xuèyā yǒu diǎn gāo, píngshí yǐnshí zhùyì ma?)
Your blood pressure is a bit high. Do you usually watch your diet?

B: 我比较喜欢吃咸的。
(Wǒ bǐjiào xǐhuān chī xián de.)
I like eating salty foods.

A: 要减少盐的摄入,多吃蔬菜水果,还要控制体重。
(Yào jiǎnshǎo yán de shèrù, duō chī shūcài shuǐguǒ, hái yào kòngzhì tǐzhòng.)
You should reduce salt intake, eat more fruits and vegetables, and control your weight.

B: 我平时运动不多,是不是也有影响?
(Wǒ píngshí yùndòng bù duō, shì bù shì yě yǒu yǐngxiǎng?)
I don’t exercise much. Does that also affect it?

A: 当然,建议你每周至少运动三次,每次三十分钟。
(Dāngrán, jiànyì nǐ měi zhōu zhìshǎo yùndòng sān cì, měi cì sānshí fēnzhōng.)
Of course. I recommend you exercise at least three times a week, 30 minutes each time.

B: 好的,我会注意生活习惯。
(Hǎo de, wǒ huì zhùyì shēnghuó xíguàn.)
Alright, I’ll pay attention to my lifestyle habits.

Conclusion

Above, we have summarized over 100 essential medical terms in Chinese, carefully compiled by Ni Hao Ma. We hope these words and sample dialogues will be useful when you need to describe your health condition or communicate about medical-related topics.

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