A sick day in Japanese: doctor, pharmacy and a moved appointment
昨日から喉が痛くて、少し熱もあります。
kinō kara nodo ga itakute, sukoshi netsu mo arimasu.
“My throat has hurt since yesterday, and I have a slight fever.”
When: First line at the clinic or drugstore
The moment
You wake up in Tokyo with a sore throat and a slight fever. You phone a clinic for an appointment today, stop at a drugstore on the way for something mild, then call the salon to push this afternoon's haircut to next week.
A2 · Unit 3 · Daily life · Checkpoint
This is the unit’s checkpoint: one roleplay that puts the unit’s scenes together.
The lines
The symptom and since when
Lead with から, then chain the symptoms with 〜て: 「昨日から喉が痛くて、少し熱もあります。」 This one sentence answers the two questions every clinic and pharmacy asks.
昨日から喉が痛くて、少し熱もあります。
kinō kara nodo ga itakute, sukoshi netsu mo arimasu.
“My throat has hurt since yesterday, and I have a slight fever.”
When to use it: First line at the clinic or drugstore
What you’ll hear back: そうですか。熱を測りましょう。 sō desu ka. netsu o hakarimashō. (I see. Let's take your temperature.)
Moving an appointment
Name the new time and soften it with 〜たいんですが: 「今日の予約を来週に変更したいんですが。」 It works for a salon, a clinic or a dentist without changing a word.
今日の予約を来週に変更したいんですが。
kyō no yoyaku o raishū ni henkō shitai n desu ga.
“I'd like to move today's appointment to next week.”
When to use it: On the phone, rescheduling anything
What you’ll hear back: かしこまりました。何曜日がよろしいですか。 kashikomarimashita. nan'yōbi ga yoroshii desu ka. (Certainly. Which day would suit you?)
Words for this scene
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 何かいい薬はありますか | nanika ii kusuri wa arimasu ka | Is there some good medicine? |
頭痛に何かいい薬はありますか。 Is there some good medicine for a headache? Tip: Open with すみません to get the pharmacist's attention first. | ||
| 保険証はこれです | hokenshō wa kore desu | Here's my health insurance card |
予約した田中です。保険証はこれです。 I'm Tanaka, I have an appointment. Here's my insurance card. Tip: Have it out before reception asks; queues move fast. | ||
| 何時まで開いていますか | nanji made aite imasu ka | How late are you open? |
今日は何時まで開いていますか。 How late are you open today? Tip: やっていますか works too and sounds a little more casual. | ||
Your objective
Get a doctor’s appointment for today, ask the pharmacist for something mild, and move your haircut to another day.
- an appointment today
- something mild
- a new day for the haircut
Lines that get it done
- 予約した田中です。保険証はこれです。 · I'm Tanaka, I have an appointment. Here's my insurance card.
- 今日の予約を来週に変更したいんですが。
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. The pharmacist asks 「いつからですか。」 How do you say 'since yesterday'?
- 昨日からです。
- 昨日までです。
- 明日からです。
- 昨日でした。
Show the answer
昨日からです。
から marks the point it started; まで would say it stopped yesterday.
2. How do you tell the pharmacist you've caught a cold?
- 風邪をひきました。
- 風邪をしました。
- 風邪を取りました。
- 風邪を持っています。
Show the answer
風邪をひきました。
風邪をひく is a fixed expression; no other verb pairs with 風邪.
3. The clinic booked you for three, so your haircut has to move. What do you tell the salon?
- 予約を来週に変更したいんですが。
- 予約を来週に注文したいんですが。
- 予約を来週に返したいんですが。
- 予約を来週に予約したいんですが。
Show the answer
予約を来週に変更したいんですが。
変更する is the verb for changing a booking, and 〜たいんですが keeps the request polite.