How to Ask for a Doctor or Clinic in Japanese: Saying 'I Need to See a Doctor'
Learn elementary Japanese for getting medical help: ask where a clinic or hospital is, say you need to see a doctor, and request an English-speaking doctor politely.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you feel unwell in Japan, the most useful sentence you can know is 'I need to see a doctor.' In this lesson you will learn exactly that, plus how to ask where a clinic or hospital is and how to request a doctor who speaks English. Japanese has no articles like 'a' or 'the', and no plural endings on nouns, so you do not need to worry about those. The key pattern uses the particle が (ga) with the adjective 必要 (hitsuyou, 'necessary') or the verb 見てもらう (mite morau, 'to have someone see me'). Keep your sentences short and polite, and staff will understand you.
By the end, you can…
- say 'I need to see a doctor' in polite Japanese.
- ask where a clinic or hospital is.
- ask for a doctor who speaks English.
- say that I am not feeling well when asking for medical help.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
医者に診てもらう必要があります。
I need to see a doctor.
isha ni mite morau hitsuyō ga arimasu
Polite, clear way to state that you need a doctor's examination. Use this at a hotel front desk or when calling a clinic.
病院はどこですか。
Where is the hospital?
byōin wa doko desu ka
病院 (byouin) usually means a larger hospital. Add 近くの (chikaku no, 'nearby') to ask about the closest one.
クリニックはどこにありますか。
Where is a clinic?
kurinikku wa doko ni arimasu ka
クリニック (kurinikku) is a small clinic. ありますか is used for the existence or location of a place.
英語の話せる医者はいますか。
Is there a doctor who can speak English?
eigo no hanaseru isha wa imasu ka
いますか is used for people. This is a polite way to ask about an English-speaking doctor.
気分が悪いです。
I feel unwell.
kibun ga warui desu
A general, polite statement of feeling sick. Say this first, then add 医者に診てもらう必要があります。
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is: [person] に 診てもらう 必要があります (…ni mite morau hitsuyō ga arimasu). 診てもらう means 'to have someone examine me,' and 必要があります means 'there is a need.' So 医者に診てもらう必要があります literally means 'There is a need to have a doctor examine me.' To ask where to go, use 病院はどこですか (byōin wa doko desu ka) or クリニックはどこにありますか (kurinikku wa doko ni arimasu ka). Notice that は (wa) marks the topic, and どこ (doko) means 'where.'
When to use it
Use 医者に診てもらう必要があります at a hotel front desk, a pharmacy, or when calling a clinic. If you are in pain or feel very sick, say 気分が悪いです (kibun ga warui desu) first, then add your request. When you need an English-speaking doctor, ask 英語の話せる医者はいますか (eigo no hanaseru isha wa imasu ka). If the answer is いいえ (iie, 'no'), you can ask 通訳はいますか (tsūyaku wa imasu ka, 'Is there an interpreter?').
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、気分が悪いです。
Excuse me, I feel unwell.sumimasen, kibun ga warui desuどうしましたか。
What is the matter?dou shimashita ka医者に診てもらう必要があります。近くの病院はどこですか。
I need to see a doctor. Where is a nearby hospital?isha ni mite morau hitsuyō ga arimasu. chikaku no byōin wa doko desu ka駅の前にクリニックがあります。英語の話せる医者もいますよ。
There is a clinic in front of the station. There is also a doctor who speaks English.eki no mae ni kurinikku ga arimasu. eigo no hanaseru isha mo imasu yoA little context goes a long way
In Japan, small clinics (クリニック) often handle non-emergencies, while large hospitals (病院) may require an introduction letter and charge extra without one. For sudden serious symptoms, call 119 for an ambulance. Politeness matters: use です/ます forms and すみません to open. Staff may ask 保険証はありますか (hokenshō wa arimasu ka, 'Do you have your insurance card?'); if you do not, say ありません (arimasen).
One thing to watch for
Saying 医者を見たいです (isha o mitai desu) to mean 'I want to see a doctor.'
Try this instead: 見たい means 'I want to look at,' which sounds as if you want to stare at the doctor. Use 医者に診てもらいたいです (isha ni mite moraitai desu) or the more formal 医者に診てもらう必要があります (isha ni mite morau hitsuyou ga arimasu).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I need to see a doctor' politely?
Show a sample answer
医者に診てもらう必要があります。
This uses 診てもらう (to have someone examine me) plus 必要があります (there is a need). 医者に会いたいです is understandable but less precise for medical care.
2Ask where a nearby clinic is.
Show a sample answer
近くのクリニックはどこにありますか。
近くの means 'nearby,' and どこにありますか asks where something exists. 近くのクリニックはどこですか is also correct and slightly simpler.
3Ask whether there is a doctor who speaks English.
Show a sample answer
英語の話せる医者はいますか。
いますか is used for people, while ありますか is used for places or things. 英語を話す医者はいますか is also acceptable.
Memorize 医者に診てもらう必要があります for 'I need to see a doctor,' and 病院はどこですか for 'Where is the hospital?' Say 気分が悪いです first, stay polite, and ask 英語の話せる医者はいますか if you need English help.
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