Preparing for a Clinic Visit | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: At home before a clinic appointment, two adults discuss check-in, forms, the waiting room, and asking staff to explain each step..

EN → KO / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Preparing for a Clinic Visit to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

병원 진료 예약이 있어.

byung-WON JIL-lyoh yeh-YAHG-ee ee-SUH. I have a clinic appointment.
A

하지만 무엇을 먼저 해야 할지 잘 모르겠어.

ha-JEE-man moo-uh-SEUL MON-juh HAY-ya hal-JJEE jal moh-ruh-GESS-uh. But I am not sure what to do first.
B

먼저 접수처에 가서 보험 카드를 보여 줘.

MON-juh JOP-soo-chuh-eh gah-SUH boh-HUM KAH-deu-reul boh-YUH jwoh. Start at reception and show them your insurance card.
A

간호사를 만나기 전에 서류를 작성해야 하나?

gan-HOH-sa-reul man-NAH-gee juh-neh suh-RYOO-reul jak-SUNG-hay-ya hah-NAH? Will I need to fill out a form before I see the nurse?
B

아마 그럴 거야. 특히 이번이 첫 방문이면.

AH-mah guh-REOL guh-YAH. tuk-HEE ee-BON-ee CHUT BANG-moon-ee-myun. Probably, especially if this is your first visit.
A

그다음에는 대기실에서 기다리면 될까?

guh-dah-uh-MEH-nun day-GEE-shee-reh-suh gee-dah-REE-myun dwel-KKAH? Should I wait in the main waiting room after that?
B

접수처에서 다른 곳으로 가라고 하지 않으면 거기서 기다려.

JOP-soo-chuh-eh-suh DAH-reun goh-suh-roh gah-rah-goh hah-jee AH-num-yun guh-GEE-suh gee-dah-RYUH. Stay there unless reception sends you somewhere else.
A

절차를 모르면 긴장돼.

JUL-chah-reul moh-RUM-yun geen-JANG-dway. I feel nervous when I do not know the procedure.
B

그건 자연스러운 일이야. 직원에게 각 단계를 설명해 달라고 물어봐도 돼.

guh-gun jah-yun-suh-ROON eel-ee-yah. JIK-won-eh-geh gak DAN-gyeh-reul sul-myung-hay dal-LAH-goh moo-ruh-BWAH-doh DWEH. That is normal. You can ask the staff to explain each step.
A

서류 작성에 충분한 시간이 있도록 일찍 도착할게.

suh-RYOO jak-SUNG-eh chung-BOON-han shee-GAHN-ee ee-TOH-rok eel-JJIK doh-CHAHK-hal-geh. I will arrive early so I have enough time for the paperwork.
B

시간을 더 넉넉히 잡으면 진료가 덜 촉박하게 느껴질 거야.

shee-GAHN-eul duh NUNG-nuh-kee jah-BUM-yun JIL-lyoh-gah deol CHOK-pah-kah-geh noo-KYUH-jil guh-YAH. Extra time should make the appointment feel less rushed.

Word by Word

병원 “병원” means a hospital or clinic. Here it identifies the place connected with the medical appointment. A common reuse pattern is 병원에 가다 for going to a hospital or clinic.
진료 “진료” refers to a medical consultation or treatment by a healthcare professional. Here it specifies what kind of appointment the speaker has. It commonly appears with 예약 in medical contexts.
예약이 “예약이” means an appointment or reservation, with 이 marking it as the subject. In this dialogue, it is something the speaker has scheduled. The noun 예약 can be reused with 이/가 있어 to say that an appointment exists.
있어 “있어” expresses having or there being something, and here it means that the speaker has a scheduled appointment. It is the casual form used with someone familiar. A common pattern is [thing]이/가 있어.
하지만 “하지만” means but and introduces a contrasting point. Here the appointment is contrasted with not knowing what to do first. It can connect two statements when the second one differs from or limits the first.
무엇을 “무엇을” means what, with 을 marking it as the object of the action. Here it asks what action should be done first. It can be used before a verb when asking which thing someone should do or choose.
먼저 “먼저” means first or before anything else. Here it asks about the first step in the clinic visit. It commonly comes before the action that should happen earliest.
해야 “해야” expresses that something must or needs to be done. Here it contributes the idea of what the speaker should do first, in 무엇을 먼저 해야 할지. It is commonly used before 할지 when someone is uncertain about what they should do.
할 “할” is the form of 하다 used before 지 in 할지, referring to the action of doing something. Here it helps form uncertainty about what action to take. A reusable pattern is 무엇을 할지 모르다, meaning not know what to do.
지 “지” marks uncertainty in 해야 할지, which means whether or what one should do. Here it is part of the embedded question about the first action. It commonly follows a verb form when the speaker is unsure about an action or choice.
잘 “잘” means well, and in 잘 모르겠어 it softens the statement to mean not knowing clearly or being unsure. Here it describes the speaker’s uncertainty about the procedure. It commonly appears with 모르다 in 잘 모르다.
모르겠어 “모르겠어” means I do not know or I am not sure in this dialogue. It expresses uncertainty about the first step rather than a definite refusal or inability. It can be reused after a question word, as in 무엇을 해야 할지 모르겠어.
접수처에 “접수처에” means to the reception desk, with 에 marking the destination. Here it is the first place the visitor should go. A common pattern is [place]에 가다 for going to a place.
가서 “가서” means go and then, linking the visit to reception with the next action. Here the person should go to reception and then show the insurance card. The pattern V-아서 can connect actions performed in sequence.
보험 “보험” means insurance. Here it identifies the type of card that should be shown at reception. It commonly comes before a related noun, as in 보험 카드.
카드를 “카드를” means the card, with 를 marking it as the object of 보여 줘. Here it refers specifically to the insurance card being shown. A common reuse pattern is [object]을/를 보여 주다.
보여 “보여” means show in this dialogue and is followed by 줘 in 보여 줘. It introduces the action of presenting the insurance card to reception. It commonly appears in the request pattern 보여 줘, meaning show it to me or show it.
줘 “줘” adds the sense of doing something as a favor for the listener or speaker. In 보여 줘, it makes the instruction a casual request to show the card. A common pattern is V-아/어 줘 for asking someone to do something for you.
간호사를 “간호사를” means the nurse, with 를 marking the nurse as the object of meeting. Here the meeting with the nurse is the point before which paperwork may be needed. It can be reused with verbs such as 만나다.
만나기 “만나기” means meeting or seeing someone, formed from 만나다 in a noun-like form. Here it appears in 만나기 전에, meaning before seeing the nurse. The pattern V-기 전에 means before doing something.
전에 “전에” means before and places one event earlier than another. Here the paperwork must be completed before meeting the nurse. It can follow a noun or V-기 form to mark an earlier time.
서류를 “서류를” means documents or paperwork, with 를 marking it as the object of 작성해야. Here it refers to the forms that may need to be completed. It commonly appears with 작성하다 in administrative or clinic settings.
작성해야 “작성해야” means must or need to fill out or complete something. Here it describes the required completion of the paperwork before seeing the nurse. It commonly occurs before 하다 or a question ending in a pattern such as 작성해야 하나?
하나 “하나” is the sentence-ending form used here to ask whether an action is necessary. In 작성해야 하나? it asks whether the speaker needs to fill out the documents. The pattern V-아/어야 하나? is useful for asking if something must be done.
아마 “아마” means probably and signals that the speaker is giving an expectation rather than complete certainty. Here it introduces the likely need to complete paperwork. It commonly appears with a prediction or expected answer.
그럴 “그럴” means be like that or be so in this reply, referring back to the need to complete the paperwork. It is the form of 그렇다 used before 거야. A common pattern is 그럴 거야 when saying that something will probably be the case.
거야 “거야” gives a casual prediction or expectation, meaning will be or is likely to be. Here it completes 그럴 거야, meaning that is probably so. It commonly follows a verb or adjective form ending in -(으)ㄹ when making a prediction.
특히 “특히” means especially and highlights one condition as more important. Here the likely need for paperwork is emphasized for a first visit. It can be placed before the condition or fact receiving special emphasis.
이번이 “이번이” means this time or this occasion, with 이 marking it as the subject. Here this particular visit is being identified as the first visit. It commonly distinguishes the current occasion from earlier or later ones.
첫 “첫” means first and comes directly before a noun. Here it describes 방문 as the first visit. It can be reused before a noun when identifying the earliest or initial occurrence.
방문이면 “방문이면” means if it is a visit or if this is a visit, with 이면 marking the condition. Here it introduces the condition that this is the person’s first visit. A common pattern is noun+(이)면 for if it is a noun.
그다음에는 “그다음에는” means after that or then, with 는 highlighting the next stage. Here it asks what to do after completing the earlier check-in steps. It commonly introduces the next event in an ordered process.
대기실에서 “대기실에서” means in the waiting room, with 에서 marking the place where the action happens. Here the speaker asks whether to wait there after the paperwork. It commonly follows a place noun before an action such as 기다리다.
기다리면 “기다리면” means if or when one waits. Here it forms a question about whether waiting in the room is the correct next action. It commonly appears before 되다 in the pattern V-(으)면 되다.
될까 “될까” expresses wondering whether something will be okay or acceptable. In 기다리면 될까? it asks whether waiting there is the right thing to do. A common pattern is V-(으)면 될까? when asking if a proposed action is suitable.
접수처에서 “접수처에서” means from or at the reception desk, with 에서 marking the source of the instruction. Here reception is the place or staff that may direct the visitor elsewhere. It can be used with an action or message originating from a place or group.
다른 “다른” means other or different and comes before the noun it describes. Here it distinguishes another place from the current waiting room. It commonly appears before a place or object when directing someone to a different one.
곳으로 “곳으로” means to another place, with 으로 marking the direction. Here it is the destination reception may tell the visitor to go to. A common pattern is [place]으로 가다 for going toward a place.
가라고 “가라고” reports an instruction telling someone to go. Here it refers to reception telling the visitor to go to another place. The reusable pattern V-(으)라고 하다 reports a command or direction.
하지 “하지” is the form of 하다 used before 않으면 in the negative condition 하지 않으면. Here it helps express that reception does not tell the visitor to go elsewhere. It commonly appears in the pattern V-지 않다.
않으면 “않으면” means if not or unless, forming a negative condition. Here the visitor should wait there unless reception gives a different instruction. A common pattern is V-지 않으면 for saying that something does not happen.
거기서 “거기서” means there or at that place, with 서 marking the place where the action occurs. Here it refers back to the waiting room. It commonly replaces a previously mentioned location when the listener knows which place is meant.
기다려 “기다려” means wait and is a casual instruction. Here it tells the visitor to remain in the waiting room under the stated condition. It can be used as a direct request with someone familiar.
절차를 “절차를” means the procedure or process, with 를 marking it as the object of 모르다. Here it refers to the steps involved in the clinic visit. It commonly appears with 알다 or 모르다 when discussing whether someone understands a process.
모르면 “모르면” means if or when one does not know. Here it describes the situation that causes the speaker to feel nervous about the clinic process. It commonly follows a noun or phrase describing what is not known and introduces a result.
긴장돼 “긴장돼” means I feel nervous or tense in this dialogue. Here the feeling occurs when the speaker does not know the procedure. It can be reused to describe a nervous reaction to an uncertain or stressful situation.
그건 “그건” means that, with the topic marker 는 attached in a contracted form. Here it refers to the nervous feeling just mentioned. It commonly introduces a comment about something already known from the conversation.
자연스러운 “자연스러운” means natural or normal and comes before the noun it describes. Here it describes the nervous feeling as a normal matter. It commonly appears before a noun when evaluating a reaction or situation.
일이야 “일이야” means it is a matter or thing, with the casual copula 이야. In 자연스러운 일이야, it helps say that the reaction is a normal thing. A common pattern is [noun]이야 in casual speech to identify or describe something.
직원에게 “직원에게” means to the staff, with 에게 marking the person receiving the request. Here the staff are the people whom the learner may ask for an explanation. A common pattern is 사람에게 V-아/어 달라고 하다 when asking someone to do something.
각 “각” means each and comes before the noun it modifies. Here it emphasizes that the staff can explain every individual step. It commonly appears before a countable noun when considering items one by one.
단계를 “단계를” means the step, with 를 marking it as the object of 설명해. Here it refers to each step in the clinic procedure. It commonly appears with 설명하다 when someone explains stages of a process.
설명해 “설명해” means explain in this dialogue and is followed by 달라고. Here it introduces the action the speaker wants the staff to perform. A common pattern is V-아/어 달라고 하다 for reporting a request to do something.
달라고 “달라고” marks a request for someone to do something for the speaker. In 설명해 달라고, it means asking the staff to explain the steps. The pattern V-아/어 달라고 하다 is used when conveying or making such a request.
물어봐도 “물어봐도” means even if one asks or, with 돼, it is okay to ask. Here it contributes to permission to ask the staff for an explanation. A common pattern is V-아/어도 되다 for asking or stating whether an action is allowed.
돼 “돼” means is okay or is allowed in this dialogue. Together with 물어봐도, it gives permission to ask the staff. The pattern V-아/어도 돼 is commonly used to say that an action is permitted.
서류 “서류” means documents or paperwork. Here it is the paperwork that must be completed before the visit can proceed. It commonly refers to administrative documents in settings such as clinics or offices.
작성에 “작성에” means for or in the process of completing something, with 에 marking the purpose or activity. Here it identifies paperwork completion as the activity for which enough time is needed. It commonly follows a noun such as 서류 작성 before a phrase about time or resources.
충분한 “충분한” means enough or sufficient and comes before the noun it describes. Here it describes the amount of time needed for the paperwork. It commonly appears before 시간 when saying that there is enough time.
시간이 “시간이” means time, with 이 marking it as the subject. Here enough time is available for completing the paperwork. It commonly appears with 있다 in expressions about having time.
있도록 “있도록” means so that there is or so as to have. Here it expresses the purpose of arriving early: making sure there is enough time for the paperwork. A common pattern is V-도록 for expressing a goal or intended result.
일찍 “일찍” means early. Here the speaker plans to arrive early to leave enough time for paperwork. It commonly comes before 도착하다 or another action whose timing is earlier than expected.
도착할게 “도착할게” means I will arrive and conveys the speaker’s intention or promise. Here the speaker commits to arriving early. It is the casual form of the pattern V-(으)ㄹ게요, used when offering or promising an action.
시간을 “시간을” means time, with 를 marking it as the object of 잡으면. Here it refers to allowing or setting aside a generous amount of time. It commonly appears in the expression 시간을 잡다 when planning an amount of time.
더 “더” means more. Here it indicates allowing more time than the usual or minimum amount. It commonly comes before an adverb or verb to increase the amount or degree.
넉넉히 “넉넉히” means generously or with plenty, especially regarding an amount of time. Here it describes setting aside time with enough room to avoid feeling rushed. It commonly modifies 시간을 잡다 when planning ample time.
잡으면 “잡으면” means if one sets aside or allows, with the meaning determined by the object 시간을. Here it means allowing a generous amount of time for the appointment. The conditional pattern V-(으)면 introduces the result of that planning choice.
진료가 “진료가” refers to the medical consultation or treatment, with 가 marking it as the subject. Here it is what will feel less rushed when extra time is allowed. It commonly appears in expressions describing the quality or pace of a medical visit.
덜 “덜” means less. Here it reduces the degree to which the medical visit feels rushed. It commonly comes before an adjective or adverb to express a lower degree.
촉박하게 “촉박하게” means in a rushed or time-pressured way. Here it describes how the medical visit may feel when there is too little time. It commonly appears before 느껴지다 when describing something as feeling rushed.
느껴질 “느껴질” means will feel or seem, in the form used before 거야. Here it predicts that the appointment will seem less rushed when extra time is allowed. It commonly appears in the pattern [상태]이/가 느껴질 거야 for saying that something will feel a certain way.

Grammar Points

V-아야/어야 하다

서류를 작성해야 해요.

suh-RYOO-reul jak-SUNG-hay-yuh HAY-yoh.

You have to fill out the form.

작성해야 expresses obligation: “must fill out.”

V-(으)면

대기실에서 기다리면 돼요.

day-GEE-shee-reh-suh gee-dah-REE-myun DWEH-yoh.

You can wait in the waiting room.

기다리면 introduces a condition or instruction: “if/when you wait.”

Korean Vocabulary

간호사 noun
gan-HOH-sah nurse 간호사를
먼저 adv
MON-juh first
병원 noun
byung-WON hospital
보여 주다 phrase
boh-YUH joo-dah to show 보여 줘
보험 noun
boh-HUM insurance
서류 noun
suh-RYOO document or form 서류를
아마 adv
AH-mah probably
예약 noun
yeh-YAHK appointment or reservation 예약이
작성하다 verb
jak-SUNG-hah-dah to fill out or complete 작성해야
접수처 noun
JOP-soo-chuh reception desk 접수처에
진료 noun
JIL-lyoh medical consultation or treatment
카드 noun
KAH-deu card 카드를

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I have a clinic appointment.

Show Answer병원 진료 예약이 있어.

Will I need to fill out a form before I see the nurse?

Show Answer간호사를 만나기 전에 서류를 작성해야 하나?

Should I wait in the main waiting room after that?

Show Answer그다음에는 대기실에서 기다리면 될까?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

reception desk

Show Answer접수처에

nurse

Show Answer간호사를

to fill out or complete

Show Answer작성해야

insurance

Show Answer보험