Korean at the Clinic and Pharmacy: 어디가 아파요 (Eodiga apayo)

In the chair

A nurse does not ask for your life story first. They ask where it hurts.

어디가 아파요?
eodiga apayo? — Where does it hurt?

가 sits on 어디 because the part is new information. They need a name. 머리가 아파요. 배가 아파요. 목이 아파요. 이가 아파요. 아프다 is 아파요. The last vowel is ㅏ, so the ending is -아요.

어디는 아파요 sets “where” up as a topic and waits for a contrast. That is the wrong first answer in a clinic.

열이 나요 is a fever. 기침이 나요 is a cough. You can add 어제부터요 if they ask when it started. Do not invent a disease name you do not have.

Getting there, then the window

약국에 가요.
yakguge gayo — I am going to the pharmacy.

에 marks the place you move toward. A clinic is 병원 or 의원 on the sign. A pharmacy in Korea is often next door; after a doctor visit you carry 처방전 across the hall.

감기에 걸렸어요 is how people say they caught a cold. You can say it. You still answer 어디가 아파요 with a body part, not with a lecture.

What you hand over

At the window, hold the paper out.

약 주세요.
yak juseyo — Medicine, please.

주세요 is the same polite request as a shop, now aimed at the pharmacist. If you already know the box, 이 약 주세요 is enough.

하루 몇 번 먹어요? is the question you should understand on the way out. The answer may be 하루 세 번요. 식후에 드세요 means after a meal. You do not need to produce that line; you need to hear it.

물은 같이 주세요 asks for water with the tablets if the counter has a cup. If they ask 보험 되세요?, they are asking about insurance, not about your Korean. A nod plus 네 is enough if you have a card; 아니요 if you are paying the full price.

One job on this page: name the place that hurts, walk to the pharmacy, and ask for the medicine. Diagnosis stays with the person in the white coat.