dentist
Seeing a Dentist
Toothache is the emergency nobody prepares for. Registering at the dental department, describing the pain precisely enough to be useful, understanding what is being proposed, and asking what it costs before it starts.
Essential phrases
In the order you are likely to need them. Play each one, repeat it, and read the note underneath — knowing when to say a sentence matters as much as saying it correctly.
你好，我牙疼，想挂个号。你好，我牙疼，想掛個號。
Nǐ (third tone, dipping) hǎo, (third tone, dipping) wǒ (third tone, dipping) yá (second tone, rising) téng, (second tone, rising) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) guà (fourth tone, falling) ge (neutral tone) hào. (fourth tone, falling)
Hello, I have toothache and would like to register to see a doctor.
When to use it
Your opening line at the registration desk. 挂号 (guàhào) is the first step of any hospital visit — you buy a consultation slot before you see anyone.
请问，口腔科在几楼？請問，口腔科在幾樓？
Qǐngwèn, (third tone, dipping) kǒuqiāngkē (third tone, dipping) zài (fourth tone, falling) jǐ (third tone, dipping) lóu? (second tone, rising)
Excuse me, which floor is the dental department on?
When to use it
口腔科 (kǒuqiāngkē) is the dental department, literally the oral cavity department — not 牙科, which you will also see but less often on hospital signage.
这颗牙疼了三天了，晚上更疼。這顆牙疼了三天了，晚上更疼。
Zhè (fourth tone, falling) kē (first tone, high and level) yá (second tone, rising) téng (second tone, rising) le (neutral tone) sān (first tone, high and level) tiān (first tone, high and level) le, (neutral tone) wǎnshang (third tone, dipping) gèng (fourth tone, falling) téng. (second tone, rising)
This tooth has been hurting for three days, and it is worse at night.
When to use it
Point at the tooth as you say it. 颗 (kē) is the measure word for teeth, and giving both the duration and when it is worst is exactly the information the dentist needs first.
喝凉水的时候特别疼。喝涼水的時候特別疼。
Hē (first tone, high and level) liáng (second tone, rising) shuǐ (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) shíhou (second tone, rising) tèbié (fourth tone, falling) téng. (second tone, rising)
It hurts a lot when I drink cold water.
When to use it
Sensitivity to cold, heat or pressure tells the dentist different things, so name the trigger. The pattern ……的时候 (…de shíhou, when…) is worth having ready for any symptom.
我可能有蛀牙。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) kěnéng (third tone, dipping) yǒu (third tone, dipping) zhùyá. (fourth tone, falling)
I think I may have a cavity.
When to use it
蛀牙 (zhùyá) is a cavity or decayed tooth. Saying 可能 (kěnéng, possibly) rather than asserting it keeps you from arguing with the examination that follows.
我的智齿发炎了。我的智齒發炎了。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) zhìchǐ (fourth tone, falling) fāyán (first tone, high and level) le. (neutral tone)
My wisdom tooth is inflamed.
When to use it
智齿 (zhìchǐ) is a wisdom tooth and 发炎 (fāyán) is to become inflamed — a pairing common enough that the two words travel together in conversation.
需要拍片子吗？需要拍片子嗎？
Xūyào (first tone, high and level) pāi (first tone, high and level) piānzi (first tone, high and level) ma? (neutral tone)
Do I need an X-ray?
When to use it
拍片子 (pāi piānzi) is to have an X-ray taken. Imaging is usually a separate room and a separate payment, so the answer tells you the shape of the next half-hour.
请问，要补牙还是拔牙？請問，要補牙還是拔牙？
Qǐngwèn, (third tone, dipping) yào (fourth tone, falling) bǔ (third tone, dipping) yá (second tone, rising) háishi (second tone, rising) bá (second tone, rising) yá? (second tone, rising)
Excuse me, does it need a filling or an extraction?
When to use it
The question that decides everything else. 补牙 (bǔ yá) is to fill a tooth, 拔牙 (bá yá) to extract one; asking with 还是 forces a clear answer rather than a description.
打麻药会疼吗？打麻藥會疼嗎？
Dǎ (third tone, dipping) máyào (second tone, rising) huì (fourth tone, falling) téng (second tone, rising) ma? (neutral tone)
Will the anaesthetic injection hurt?
When to use it
麻药 (máyào) is local anaesthetic and 打 (dǎ) is the verb for an injection. Asking is normal, and it also confirms that anaesthetic is being used at all.
开药之前我说一下，我对青霉素过敏。開藥之前我說一下，我對青黴素過敏。
Kāi (first tone, high and level) yào (fourth tone, falling) zhīqián (first tone, high and level) wǒ (third tone, dipping) shuō (first tone, high and level) yíxià, (second tone, rising) wǒ (third tone, dipping) duì (fourth tone, falling) qīngméisù (first tone, high and level) guòmǐn. (fourth tone, falling)
Before you prescribe anything, I should mention that I am allergic to penicillin.
When to use it
Say it unprompted, before the prescription is written rather than after. Antibiotics are commonly prescribed after an extraction, and 开药 (kāi yào) is the verb for prescribing; substitute your own allergen in the pattern 我对……过敏.
我补的牙掉了。我補的牙掉了。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) bǔ (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) yá (second tone, rising) diào (fourth tone, falling) le. (neutral tone)
My filling has come out.
When to use it
Literally "the tooth I had filled has fallen". Bring the date and, if you have it, the receipt from the original treatment — repairs are handled differently if the work was done at the same clinic.
我想洗牙，大概多少钱？我想洗牙，大概多少錢？
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) xǐ (third tone, dipping) yá, (second tone, rising) dàgài (fourth tone, falling) duōshao (first tone, high and level) qián? (second tone, rising)
I would like a scale and polish — roughly how much does it cost?
When to use it
洗牙 (xǐ yá), literally to wash the teeth, is a scale and polish. Ask the price before agreeing to anything, because dental work is usually paid before it is carried out.
学生保险能报销吗？學生保險能報銷嗎？
Xuéshēng (second tone, rising) bǎoxiǎn (third tone, dipping) néng (second tone, rising) bàoxiāo (fourth tone, falling) ma? (neutral tone)
Can I claim this back on my student insurance?
When to use it
报销 (bàoxiāo) is to claim a cost back. Ask before treatment and keep every receipt: reimbursement almost always requires the original 发票 and sometimes a stamped record of the visit.
下次什么时候来复诊？下次什麼時候來復診？
Xià (fourth tone, falling) cì (fourth tone, falling) shénme (second tone, rising) shíhou (second tone, rising) lái (second tone, rising) fùzhěn? (fourth tone, falling)
When should I come back for a follow-up?
When to use it
Your closing line. 复诊 (fùzhěn) is a follow-up appointment; ask whether you need to register again, since some hospitals issue a follow-up slot and some do not.
Cultural notes
Dental treatment happens in three quite different places, and choosing between them matters more than the vocabulary. The of a general hospital is cheap and busy; a dedicated is the specialist option; and private clinics () cost more, take appointments, and in large cities often have staff who speak English. In a hospital the sequence is fixed and unfamiliar: you first, buying a consultation slot at a desk, a kiosk or increasingly in the hospital’s WeChat account; then you see the doctor; then you go to the to pay for whatever was prescribed; then you come back with the receipt for the treatment or the X-ray. You may make that loop two or three times in one visit, and nothing happens until each payment is made. Same-day slots at large hospitals are released early and run out early, so arrive at opening or book the previous day; a (specialist slot) costs more than a (ordinary one) and is not always necessary for a straightforward filling. Bring your passport and, if you have one, the hospital card issued on your first visit, since the record is attached to it. On insurance: policies held by international students differ enormously between universities and between providers, and dental work is frequently only partly covered or not covered at all — ask your international students’ office before an expensive procedure rather than after, and keep the , the official receipt, because no claim is possible without it. Finally, treatment is usually explained briefly rather than at length; asking and is not rude, it is expected of a patient who wants to know.
These notes describe common practice, not rules. Requirements and procedures differ between cities, institutions and years — confirm anything procedural with the office, clinic or company itself.
Vocabulary
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Dictionary →Offline phrase card
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HSK Guide · Offline phrase card
Seeing a Dentist
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你好，我牙疼，想挂个号。你好，我牙疼，想掛個號。
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yá téng, xiǎng guà ge hào.
Hello, I have toothache and would like to register to see a doctor.
请问，口腔科在几楼？請問，口腔科在幾樓？
Qǐngwèn, kǒuqiāngkē zài jǐ lóu?
Excuse me, which floor is the dental department on?
这颗牙疼了三天了，晚上更疼。這顆牙疼了三天了，晚上更疼。
Zhè kē yá téng le sān tiān le, wǎnshang gèng téng.
This tooth has been hurting for three days, and it is worse at night.
喝凉水的时候特别疼。喝涼水的時候特別疼。
Hē liáng shuǐ de shíhou tèbié téng.
It hurts a lot when I drink cold water.
我可能有蛀牙。
Wǒ kěnéng yǒu zhùyá.
I think I may have a cavity.
我的智齿发炎了。我的智齒發炎了。
Wǒ de zhìchǐ fāyán le.
My wisdom tooth is inflamed.
需要拍片子吗？需要拍片子嗎？
Xūyào pāi piānzi ma?
Do I need an X-ray?
请问，要补牙还是拔牙？請問，要補牙還是拔牙？
Qǐngwèn, yào bǔ yá háishi bá yá?
Excuse me, does it need a filling or an extraction?
打麻药会疼吗？打麻藥會疼嗎？
Dǎ máyào huì téng ma?
Will the anaesthetic injection hurt?
开药之前我说一下，我对青霉素过敏。開藥之前我說一下，我對青黴素過敏。
Kāi yào zhīqián wǒ shuō yíxià, wǒ duì qīngméisù guòmǐn.
Before you prescribe anything, I should mention that I am allergic to penicillin.
我补的牙掉了。我補的牙掉了。
Wǒ bǔ de yá diào le.
My filling has come out.
我想洗牙，大概多少钱？我想洗牙，大概多少錢？
Wǒ xiǎng xǐ yá, dàgài duōshao qián?
I would like a scale and polish — roughly how much does it cost?
学生保险能报销吗？學生保險能報銷嗎？
Xuéshēng bǎoxiǎn néng bàoxiāo ma?
Can I claim this back on my student insurance?
下次什么时候来复诊？下次什麼時候來復診？
Xià cì shénme shíhou lái fùzhěn?
When should I come back for a follow-up?