Hospital Chinese: phrases and signs to show staff
Short answer
You don't need to speak Mandarin to get through a Chinese hospital, but you do need to be understood at registration, by the doctor and at the cashier. The phrases below are written to be shown to staff: open this page on your phone and point to the card. The sign table at the end helps you find registration (挂号), payment (缴费), the emergency department (急诊) and the pharmacy (药房).
Key facts
- Most hospital staff outside international departments speak Mandarin only.
- Showing written Chinese is more reliable than pronouncing it.
- The four signs that matter most: 挂号 (registration), 缴费 (payment), 急诊 (emergency), 药房 (pharmacy).
- Translation apps with camera and voice modes work well for back-and-forth with a doctor.
At registration
我需要看医生。
Wǒ xūyào kàn yīshēng.
我是外国人，这是我的护照。
Wǒ shì wàiguó rén, zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào.
这里有国际医疗部吗？
Zhèlǐ yǒu guójì yīliáo bù ma?
有会说英语的医生或护士吗？
Yǒu huì shuō Yīngyǔ de yīshēng huò hùshi ma?
我应该挂哪个科？
Wǒ yīnggāi guà nǎge kē?
Emergencies
请叫救护车！
Qǐng jiào jiùhùchē!
这是紧急情况！
Zhè shì jǐnjí qíngkuàng!
请带我去急诊。
Qǐng dài wǒ qù jízhěn.
Describing symptoms
这里疼。
Zhèlǐ téng.
我发烧了。
Wǒ fāshāo le.
我胸口疼。
Wǒ xiōngkǒu téng.
我呼吸困难。
Wǒ hūxī kùnnan.
我头晕。
Wǒ tóuyūn.
我一直在呕吐。
Wǒ yìzhí zài ǒutù.
我拉肚子。
Wǒ lā dùzi.
三天前开始的。
Sān tiān qián kāishǐ de.
Medical history
我对青霉素过敏。
Wǒ duì qīngméisù guòmǐn.
我有糖尿病。
Wǒ yǒu tángniàobìng.
我有高血压。
Wǒ yǒu gāoxuèyā.
我怀孕了。
Wǒ huáiyùn le.
我每天吃这个药。
Wǒ měitiān chī zhège yào.
Paying and paperwork
在哪里缴费？
Zài nǎlǐ jiǎofèi?
可以用外国信用卡付款吗？
Kěyǐ yòng wàiguó xìnyòngkǎ fùkuǎn ma?
请给我开发票。
Qǐng gěi wǒ kāi fāpiào.
可以给我一份病历复印件吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yí fèn bìnglì fùyìnjiàn ma?
如果可以，请用英文写诊断。
Rúguǒ kěyǐ, qǐng yòng Yīngwén xiě zhěnduàn.
Signs you'll see
| Sign | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 急诊 | jízhěn | Emergency department |
| 门诊 | ménzhěn | Outpatient clinics |
| 挂号 | guàhào | Registration |
| 缴费 / 收费 | jiǎofèi / shōufèi | Payment / cashier |
| 分诊台 / 导诊台 | fēnzhěn tái / dǎozhěn tái | Triage desk / information desk |
| 国际医疗部 | guójì yīliáo bù | International department |
| 特需门诊 | tèxū ménzhěn | VIP / premium clinic |
| 发热门诊 | fārè ménzhěn | Fever clinic |
| 检验科 | jiǎnyàn kē | Laboratory (blood and urine tests) |
| 放射科 | fàngshè kē | Radiology (X-ray, CT, MRI) |
| 药房 / 取药 | yàofáng / qǔyào | Pharmacy / collect medicine |
| 住院部 | zhùyuàn bù | Inpatient wards |
| 内科 | nèikē | Internal medicine |
| 外科 | wàikē | Surgery |
| 儿科 | érkē | Paediatrics |
| 妇产科 | fùchǎn kē | Obstetrics and gynaecology |
| 口腔科 | kǒuqiāng kē | Dentistry |
| 眼科 | yǎnkē | Ophthalmology (eyes) |
| 皮肤科 | pífū kē | Dermatology (skin) |
Tips for being understood
- Show, don't say. Tones change meaning; written characters don't.
- Write a one-card summary before your visit: main symptom, when it started, medicines, allergies, conditions.
- Ask for instructions in writing, especially doses and follow-up dates.
- Use a translation app's camera mode to read prescriptions, reports and signs.
Questions people ask
Do Chinese doctors speak English?
Many younger doctors at large hospitals read medical English well and some speak it, but you can't rely on it in regular outpatient clinics. International departments and private international hospitals have English-speaking staff.
What's the best way to communicate with a Chinese doctor?
Prepare a short written summary in English and Chinese — main symptom, how long, medicines, allergies, conditions — and show it at the start. Then use a translation app for follow-up questions, and ask the doctor to write down the diagnosis and instructions.
Sources
- Healthcare in China for foreigners: complete guide (2026), China Med Guide