TOPIK II Core Vocabulary · Health & Medicine ③

At the clinic — 진단, 처방, 부작용, 관리하다, 유지하다

The final set of health words. During a medical visit, 진단 usually comes before 처방.

01진단jindan

diagnosis · a doctor's judgment about an illness or condition.

Note A 검사 is an examination or test. A 진단 is the judgment that comes from those results. A written medical certificate is called a 진단서.

Examples 진단을 받다 (to be diagnosed) · 진단이 나오다 (a diagnosis comes back) · 진단서 (a medical certificate)

검사 결과 별문제 없다는 진단을 받았어요. The test results came back with a diagnosis of no particular problem.  |  별문제 없다 = to have no particular problem

이른 진단이 치료의 성공률을 크게 높인다. An early diagnosis greatly improves the odds of successful treatment.  |  성공률 = success rate

02처방cheobang

prescription · a doctor's written instruction for medicine or care.

Note In Korea, you buy the medicine at a 약국. You go there after the doctor gives you a 처방전, the prescription slip.

Examples 처방을 받다 (to get a prescription) · 처방전 (the prescription slip) · 처방하다 (to prescribe)

처방전을 약국에 가져가세요. Take the prescription to the pharmacy.  |  약국 = a shop that sells medicine

같은 증상이라도 사람에 따라 처방이 달라질 수 있다. The same symptoms may require different prescriptions depending on the person.  |  -에 따라 = depending on

03부작용bujagyong🔊 [부자굥]

side effect · an unwanted result that comes with the wanted one.

Note 부작용 is not only about medicine. It also covers bad effects of policies or systems.

Examples 부작용이 있다 (to have side effects) · 부작용이 생기다 (side effects arise) · 부작용을 줄이다 (to reduce them)

이 약은 부작용이 거의 없어요. This medicine has almost no side effects.  |  거의 = hardly

성급한 정책은 예상하지 못한 부작용을 낳기도 한다. A hastily made policy can produce unexpected side effects.  |  성급하다 = to be hasty · 낳다 = to produce

04관리하다gwallihada🔊 [괄리하다]

to manage, to look after · to keep something in good order.

Pronunciation [괄리하다]. A final consonant (patchim) ㄴ before ㄹ is said as ㄹ. You see the same change in 권리.

Note This word is used in many ways. You can manage health, time, money, staff, and even your looks, as in 몸매 관리.

Examples 건강을 관리하다 (to look after your health) · 시간을 관리하다 (to manage time) · 관리자 (a manager)

평소에 건강을 잘 관리해야 해요. You need to take care of your health every day.  |  평소 = in everyday life

만성 질환은 완치보다 꾸준한 관리가 더 중요하다. For a chronic illness, regular management is more important than a complete cure.  |  만성 = chronic · 완치 = a complete cure

05유지하다yujihada

to maintain · to keep something at the same level or in the same state.

Note 관리하다 means to look after or improve something. 유지하다 means to keep its current state. For example, use 건강을 관리하다 and 체중을 유지하다.

Examples 체중을 유지하다 (to keep your weight) · 관계를 유지하다 (to maintain a relationship) · 현상 유지 (the status quo)

지금 체중을 유지하려고 해요. I am trying to maintain my current weight.  |  -(으)려고 하다 = to intend to

건강한 상태를 유지하는 일은 되찾는 일보다 쉽다. Maintaining good health is easier than recovering it.  |  되찾다 = to regain

Quick check3 questions

Fill in each blank in Korean. Every answer appears above.

1. 이른 __________이 치료의 성공률을 크게 높인다. (an early ______)
2. 성급한 정책은 예상하지 못한 __________을 낳기도 한다. (unforeseen ______)
3. 건강한 상태를 __________ 일은 되찾는 일보다 쉽다. (유지하다 · before a noun)

Show answers

1. 진단   2. 부작용   3. 유지하는

Study tip A medical visit in Korea often follows this order: 검사 → 진단 → 처방. You then take the 처방전 to a pharmacy, a shop that sells medicine. This order helps you understand texts about hospital visits.