Korean for Urgent Medical Help: Asking for a Doctor Immediately
Learn to say 'I need a doctor immediately' in Korean, use emergency numbers 119 and 112, and handle urgent medical situations with clear, polite phrases.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When a medical emergency strikes in Korea, being able to quickly ask for help can make a critical difference. This lesson focuses on the essential Korean phrases you need to request urgent medical assistance, including how to say 'I need a doctor immediately' and how to use Korea's emergency numbers. You will practice realistic dialogues and learn the nuances of polite but urgent speech. By the end, you will be able to communicate your need for immediate medical attention clearly and effectively.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a doctor immediately in Korean using urgent but polite language.
- call Korea's emergency number 119 and request an ambulance.
- describe an emergency situation and ask for help from bystanders.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
의사가 즉시 필요해요.
I need a doctor immediately.
ui-sa-ga jeuk-si pi-ryo-hae-yo
Polite and direct; use in hospitals, clinics, or when speaking to staff. '즉시' means 'immediately'.
119에 전화해 주세요.
Please call 119.
il-il-gu-e jeon-hwa-hae ju-se-yo
119 is Korea's emergency number for ambulance and fire. Use '주세요' to ask someone to make the call.
응급실이 어디예요?
Where is the emergency room?
eung-geup-sil-i eo-di-ye-yo
Use in a hospital or when asking for directions to the ER. '응급실' means emergency room.
구급차를 불러 주세요.
Please call an ambulance.
gu-geup-cha-reul bul-leo ju-se-yo
Use when you need an ambulance but cannot call yourself. '구급차' is ambulance.
급해요! 빨리 도와주세요!
It's urgent! Please help quickly!
geup-hae-yo! ppal-li do-wa-ju-se-yo
Use in a dire emergency to attract attention. '급해요' means 'it's urgent'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for something urgently, use the pattern 'Noun + 이/가 + 필요해요' (I need Noun). For example, '의사가 필요해요' (I need a doctor). Add '즉시' (immediately) or '빨리' (quickly) to emphasize urgency: '의사가 즉시 필요해요'. To ask someone to do something, use the polite request form 'Verb stem + 아/어 주세요'. For instance, '전화해 주세요' (please call), '도와주세요' (please help). Combine these patterns to handle emergencies: '119에 전화해 주세요' (Please call 119).
When to use it
Use these phrases in genuine emergencies: if you or someone else is severely injured, has difficulty breathing, or is unconscious. In such cases, call 119 immediately. If you are with a Korean speaker, you can say '119에 전화해 주세요' to ask them to call. If you are alone, dial 119 yourself and say '구급차를 보내 주세요' (Please send an ambulance). At a hospital, go to the 응급실 (emergency room) and say '의사가 즉시 필요해요' to the staff. Remember that 119 is for medical and fire emergencies, while 112 is for police. Use 119 for medical help.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
여보세요, 119입니다. 무슨 일이세요?
Hello, this is 119. What's the emergency?yeo-bo-se-yo, il-il-gu-im-ni-da. mu-seun il-i-se-yo급해요! 제 친구가 쓰러졌어요. 구급차를 보내 주세요.
It's urgent! My friend collapsed. Please send an ambulance.geup-hae-yo! je chin-gu-ga sseu-reo-jyeo-sseo-yo. gu-geup-cha-reul bo-nae ju-se-yo알겠습니다. 주소가 어떻게 되세요?
Okay. What is your address?al-get-seum-ni-da. ju-so-ga eo-tteo-ke doe-se-yo서울시 강남구 테헤란로 123입니다. 빨리 와 주세요!
It's 123 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Please come quickly!seo-ul-si gang-nam-gu te-he-ran-ro baek-i-sip-sam-im-ni-da. ppal-li wa ju-se-yoA little context goes a long way
In Korea, 119 is the integrated emergency number for ambulance and fire services, and 112 is for police. When calling 119, speak clearly and calmly; the operator may ask for your location and the nature of the emergency. If you don't speak Korean well, you can say '영어 할 수 있는 분 계세요?' (Is there someone who speaks English?) but be prepared to provide basic information. Hospitals have emergency rooms (응급실) but may require payment; however, emergency treatment is provided first. It's also common to ask bystanders for help by saying '도와주세요!' (Help me!).
One thing to watch for
Using '의사가 즉시 필요해요' in a non-urgent situation, which can sound overly dramatic.
Try this instead: For non-urgent needs, say '의사 선생님을 만나고 싶어요' (I want to see a doctor) or '진료를 받고 싶어요' (I want to receive medical treatment). Reserve '즉시 필요해요' for true emergencies.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'Please call an ambulance' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
구급차를 불러 주세요.
This uses the polite request form '불러 주세요' (please call) with '구급차' (ambulance). Alternatively, you can say '구급차를 보내 주세요' (please send an ambulance).
2What number do you dial for a medical emergency in Korea?
Show a sample answer
119
119 is for ambulance and fire emergencies. 112 is for police. In a medical emergency, dial 119.
3Translate: 'Where is the emergency room?'
Show a sample answer
응급실이 어디예요?
'응급실' means emergency room, and '어디예요?' means 'where is it?'. This is a polite and direct way to ask.
In a medical emergency in Korea, call 119 and say '구급차를 보내 주세요' (Please send an ambulance). If you need a doctor immediately, say '의사가 즉시 필요해요.' Keep these phrases ready for urgent situations.
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