Describing Symptoms at a Clinic — JLPT N4 Japanese Conversation
The situation
Yattan (ヤッタン) isn't feeling well and goes to a small local clinic. After handing over the insurance card at reception, Yattan is called in to see the doctor (お医者さん).
こんにちは。今日はどうしましたか。
こんにちは。きょうは どうしましたか。
Hello. What brings you in today?
朝から頭が痛くて、熱もあるんです。
あさから あたまが いたくて、ねつも あるんです。
My head has hurt since this morning, and I have a fever too.
そうですか。少しのどを見せてください。
そうですか。すこし のどを みせてください。
I see. Please let me take a look at your throat.
実は昨日、冷たいものを食べすぎたんです。
じつは きのう、つめたい ものを たべすぎたんです。
Actually, I ate too many cold things yesterday.
なるほど。風邪ですね。今日はゆっくり休んだほうがいいですよ。
なるほど。かぜですね。きょうは ゆっくり やすんだほうが いいですよ。
I see. It's a cold. You should rest well today.
わかりました。お薬をもらえますか。
わかりました。おくすりを もらえますか。
Understood. May I get some medicine?
はい。この薬を一日三回、食後に飲んでください。
はい。この くすりを いちにち さんかい、しょくごに のんでください。
Yes. Take this medicine three times a day, after meals.
ありがとうございます。お大事に、ですね。
ありがとうございます。おだいじに、ですね。
Thank you very much. Take care, right?
Key expressions
- 〜んです — the "explaining" ending. Attach ん(の)+です to a plain-form clause to give background or a reason: 熱があるんです ("(the thing is,) I have a fever"), 食べすぎたんです ("(you see,) I ate too much"). It's the natural register for describing symptoms.
- 〜すぎる — "too much / over-do." Drop the ます of a verb and add すぎる: 食べる → 食べすぎる ("eat too much"), 飲みすぎる ("drink too much"). With い-adjectives, drop the い: 高い → 高すぎる. See 〜すぎる (too much) for the full pattern.
- 〜たほうがいいです — advice: "you'd better ~ / you should ~." Use the plain past form + ほうがいいです: 休んだほうがいい ("you should rest"). More on this at 〜ほうがいい (giving advice).
- 〜てください — polite instruction. The doctor uses it to direct you: のどを見せてください ("please show me your throat"), 飲んでください ("please take/drink it").
About small clinics (クリニック) in Japan
For everyday illnesses — a cold, a fever, a stomachache — most people in Japan skip the big general hospital (総合病院) and go to a small neighborhood クリニック or 医院, often a single doctor's office you can walk into without an appointment. Always bring your 保険証 (health-insurance card); with it you usually pay only about 30% of the cost. On your first visit you'll pay an extra 初診料 (first-visit fee), and reception will call it your 初診 ("first consultation"). The one survival phrase worth memorizing: 「保険証を持っています」 ("I have my insurance card") — and the doctor will almost always send you off with 「お大事に」 ("take care / get well soon").
Frequently asked questions
How do I say 'I have a fever' in Japanese?
熱があります (netsu ga arimasu), literally 'a fever exists.' At the doctor, most people add the explaining ending: 熱があるんです — 'the thing is, I have a fever.' Pain uses 〜が痛い: 頭が痛い ('my head hurts').
What is 初診 and why is there an extra fee?
初診 (shoshin) means your first visit to that particular clinic. Clinics add a one-time 初診料 (first-visit fee) on top of the treatment cost. Return visits are billed as 再診 (saishin) and are cheaper.
Do I really need my 保険証 every time?
Yes. Bring your 保険証 (health-insurance card) to every visit; it lowers your payment to roughly 30%. Without it you may be charged the full amount up front and have to claim the difference back later.