What You‘ll Actually Hear in a Real Consultation.
You walk into a clinic in China.
You‘ve learned some medical Chinese. You know words like “symptom,““pain,“ “diagnosis.“Then the doctor looks up and says something very simple.
And suddenly, you‘re not sure how to respond.
This is something many Mandarin learners experience.
It‘s not that you don‘t know Chinese.
It‘s that real diagnostic Chinese doesn‘t sound like what you studied.
In an actual diagnosis, Chinese doctors don‘t speak in textbook sentences. They use short, flexible phrases that guide the conversation without explaining it.
Once you recognize those patterns, the interaction becomes much easier to follow and respond to.
1. The First Question You‘ll Hear
The doctor usually won‘t ask anything formal.
They‘ll say:
Nǎ lǐ bù shū fu?
哪里不舒服？
Where do you feel uncomfortable?
This is not asking for a medical term.
It‘s inviting you to describe how your body feels, however you can.If you try to search for the “correct“ word, you may freeze.
But you don‘t need perfect language here.
You can answer with pointing, gestures, or simple words.This question is designed to be easy for you.
2. When the Doctor Starts Narrowing It Down
After you speak, the doctor may ask short follow-up questions.
Shì zhè lǐ ma?
是这里吗？
Is it here?
Shén me shí hòu kāi shǐ de?
什么时候开始的？
When did it start?
These are not rushed or cold.
They‘re efficient.You don‘t need full sentences to answer.
Single words, time references, or short phrases are completely acceptable.
3. How You‘ll Be Asked About Pain
You might expect numbers or scales.
Instead, you‘ll usually hear something like:
Téng de lì hǎi ma?
疼得厉害吗？
Does it hurt badly?
Or:
Shì yǒu yī diǎn, hái shì hěn míng xiǎn?
是有一点，还是很明显？
Is it mild, or quite noticeable?
You‘re not expected to be precise.
You‘re expected to react naturally.Understanding this helps you stop overthinking your answer.
4. Questions About Frequency and Pattern
Doctors care a lot about patterns.
That‘s why you‘ll hear:
Yǒu méi yǒu jīng cháng zhè yàng?
有没有经常这样？
Does this happen often?
Shì ǒu ěr, hái shì měi tiān?
是偶尔，还是每天？
Is it occasional or daily?
These questions guide the diagnosis quietly.
They may sound casual, but they‘re important.If you understand the intent, you can respond calmly instead of panicking about grammar.
5. When the Doctor Doesn‘t Give a Clear Answer Yet
Sometimes you‘re waiting for a conclusion, and the doctor says:
Xiān guān chá yī xià.
先观察一下。
Let‘s observe for now.
This doesn‘t mean you‘re being dismissed.
It means more time or information is needed.You may also hear:
Zàn shí bú yòng chǔ lǐ.
暂时不用处理。
No treatment needed for now.
Knowing this helps you read the situation correctly and reduces anxiety.
6. Reassuring Language You‘ll Often Hear
If your condition isn‘t serious, the doctor may say:
Méi shén me dà wèn tí.
没什么大问题。
Nothing serious.
Or:
Kě néng shì qíng kuàng xìng de.
可能是情况性的。
It may be situational.
These phrases are meant to calm you.
They‘re very common, and very human.
7. How Advice Is Usually Given
Instead of strong commands, doctors often sound gentle.
Nǐ xiān zhù yì yī xià.
你先注意一下。
Pay attention to it for now.
Rú guǒ zài bù shū fu, zài lái kàn.
如果再不舒服，再来看。
If it feels uncomfortable again, come back.
If you expect direct orders, this can feel vague.
But culturally, this is normal and considerate.
Why This Feels Hard Even If You‘ve Studied Chinese
The difficulty isn‘t vocabulary.
It‘s that diagnostic Chinese is flexible, indirect, and context-driven.
If you only learned Chinese from lists and textbooks, this gap is unavoidable.
And that‘s exactly what personalized 1-on-1 guidance is for.
At eChineseLearning, you don‘t just learn medical words.
- You practice:real doctor-patient flow
- how to respond with limited language
- understanding tone and intent
- speaking without waiting for perfect sentences
Every sentence you learn fits a real situation you may actually face.
Start learning real, natural Mandarin with eChineseLearning‘s 1-on-1 Chinese lessons — where every sentence fits a real situation.
Quiz: You walk into a clinic and sit down. Which question are you most likely to hear first?
A.Nǐ de zhǔ yào zhèng zhuàng shì shén me?
你的主要症状是什么？
What is your main symptom?
B.Nǎ lǐ bù shū fu?
哪里不舒服？
Where do you feel uncomfortable?
C.Qǐng miáo shù nǐ de bìng lǐ qíng kuàng.
请描述你的病理情况。
Please describe your pathological condition.
👉 Comment your answer below!
answer: B