What to say at the pharmacy in Japanese
頭が痛くて、少し熱もあります。
atama ga itakute, sukoshi netsu mo arimasu.
“I have a headache, and a bit of a fever too.”
When: Opening line at the counter
The moment
You stop at a drugstore in Tokyo with a headache that started this morning. You need to describe how you feel, let the pharmacist pick something for you, and understand how to take it.
A2 · Unit 3 · Daily life
The lines
Two symptoms in one line
Join symptoms with the 〜て form: 「頭が痛くて、少し熱もあります。」 The 痛い becomes 痛くて to mean 'and', and も adds the second problem on top.
頭が痛くて、少し熱もあります。
atama ga itakute, sukoshi netsu mo arimasu.
“I have a headache, and a bit of a fever too.”
When to use it: Opening line at the counter
What you’ll hear back: いつからですか。 itsu kara desu ka. (Since when?)
Letting them choose for you
Instead of reading every box, ask 「何かいい薬はありますか。」 — 'Is there some good medicine?' Pharmacists in Japan expect to be asked and will put one in your hand.
何かいい薬はありますか。
nanika ii kusuri wa arimasu ka.
“Do you have a good medicine for it?”
When to use it: Right after describing your symptoms
What you’ll hear back: こちらがよく効きますよ。一日三回、食後に飲んでください。 kochira ga yoku kikimasu yo. ichinichi sankai, shokugo ni nonde kudasai. (This one works well. Take it three times a day, after meals.)
Words for this scene
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 風邪をひきました | kaze o hikimashita | I've caught a cold |
先週、ひどい風邪をひきました。 I caught a bad cold last week. Tip: Japanese 'pulls' a cold — never say 風邪を持っています. | ||
| 花粉症なんです | kafunshō nan desu | I have hay fever |
毎年三月は花粉症なんです。 Every year in March I get hay fever. Tip: Cedar pollen peaks in March; drugstores stock whole 花粉症 aisles. | ||
| 一日に何回飲みますか | ichinichi ni nankai nomimasu ka | How many times a day do I take it? |
この薬は一日に何回飲みますか。 How many times a day do I take this medicine? Tip: Medicine is always 飲む in Japanese, even tablets and powders. | ||
Your objective
Describe two symptoms and since when; when they suggest something you can’t take, ask for something else and how to take it.
- two symptoms
- asking for something else
- how to take it
Lines that get it done
- 頭が痛くて、少し熱もあります。
- 一日に何回飲みますか · ichinichi ni nankai nomimasu ka · How many times a day do I take it?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. How do you say your head hurts and you also have a slight fever?
- 頭が痛くて、少し熱もあります。
- 頭が痛いで、少し熱もあります。
- 頭を痛くて、少し熱もあります。
- 頭が痛くて、少し熱もいます。
Show the answer
頭が痛くて、少し熱もあります。
痛い becomes 痛くて to link two states, and 熱 takes あります because it is not alive.
2. The pharmacist says 「一日三回、食後に飲んでください。」 What should you do?
- Take it three times a day, after meals.
- Take it three times a day, before meals.
- Take three tablets once a day, at bedtime.
- Take it for three days, with plenty of water.
Show the answer
Take it three times a day, after meals.
一日三回 means three times a day and 食後 means after eating.
3. It's spring, your eyes itch and your nose is running. What do you tell the pharmacist?
- 花粉症なんです。
- 花見なんです。
- 鼻が高いんです。
- 花が好きなんです。
Show the answer
花粉症なんです。
花粉症 is hay fever; 鼻が高い means proud, not a runny nose.