您今天来有什么不舒服？
Nín jīntiān lái yǒu shénme bù shūfu?
What brings you in today?
Key phrase
Clinical scenarios in Mandarin
How to take a patient history in Mandarin
Taking a patient history in Mandarin requires a structured approach to ensure accurate clinical information is gathered. This guide provides a step-by-step communication framework with clinical phrases, example dialogue, and practical tips for real hospital settings.
Clinical context
History taking is the foundation of clinical diagnosis. When communicating with Mandarin-speaking patients, using structured, clinically accurate Mandarin reduces misunderstanding, improves diagnostic accuracy, and builds patient trust.
Step 1: Open the consultation
Greet the patient, introduce yourself, and ask what brought them in today.
Step 2: Presenting complaint
Identify the main symptom using open questions before narrowing down.
Step 3: History of presenting complaint
Characterise the symptom: onset, duration, severity, radiation, associated features.
Step 4: Past medical history
Ask about past illnesses, surgeries, and hospitalisations.
Step 5: Medications and allergies
Obtain a full medication list and screen for drug allergies.
Step 6: Family and social history
Family illness history, smoking, alcohol, occupation.
Step 7: Systems review
Brief screening of other body systems.
High-yield phrases
症状什么时候开始的？
Zhèngzhuàng shénme shíhou kāishǐ de?
When did the symptoms start?
Key phrase
您有过敏史吗？
Nín yǒu guòmǐn shǐ ma?
Do you have any allergies?
Key phrase
您目前在服用什么药物？
Nín mùqián zài fúyòng shénme yàowù?
What medications are you currently taking?
Key phrase
Example clinical dialogue
doctor
您好，我是今天的医生。请问您叫什么名字？
Nín hǎo, wǒ shì jīntiān de yīshēng. Qǐngwèn nín jiào shénme míngzi?
Hello, I am today's doctor. May I ask your name?
patient
我叫王明。
Wǒ jiào Wáng Míng.
My name is Wang Ming.
doctor
王先生，您今天来有什么不舒服？
Wáng xiānsheng, nín jīntiān lái yǒu shénme bù shūfu?
Mr Wang, what brings you in today?
patient
我胸口痛，已经两个小时了。
Wǒ xiōngkǒu tòng, yǐjīng liǎng gè xiǎoshí le.
I have chest pain. It has been two hours.
doctor
胸痛在哪个位置？能用手指给我指一下吗？
Xiōng tòng zài nǎge wèizhi? Néng yòng shǒuzhǐ gěi wǒ zhǐ yīxià ma?
Where exactly is the chest pain? Can you point to it?
patient
就是这里，中间，还会放射到左臂。
Jiù shì zhèlǐ, zhōngjiān, hái huì fàngshè dào zuǒ bì.
Right here, in the middle, and it radiates to my left arm.
doctor
疼痛是压迫感还是刺痛？
Téngtòng shì yāpò gǎn háishi cìtòng?
Is it a pressure feeling or a sharp pain?
patient
是压迫感，像有东西压着一样。
Shì yāpò gǎn, xiàng yǒu dōngxi yā zhe yīyàng.
It feels like pressure, like something is pressing on it.
doctor
您有出汗或恶心吗？
Nín yǒu chūhàn huò ěxīn ma?
Do you have sweating or nausea?
patient
有，我出了很多汗。
Yǒu, wǒ chū le hěnduō hàn.
Yes, I have been sweating a lot.
doctor
您有心脏病史吗？
Nín yǒu xīnzàng bìng shǐ ma?
Do you have any history of heart disease?
patient
我有高血压，在吃药。
Wǒ yǒu gāo xuèyā, zài chī yào.
I have high blood pressure and am taking medication.
doctor
您对什么药物过敏吗？
Nín duì shénme yàowù guòmǐn ma?
Are you allergic to any medications?
patient
我对青霉素过敏。
Wǒ duì qīngméisù guòmǐn.
I am allergic to penicillin.
Common mistakes
- Using 你 (nǐ) instead of 您 (nín) — always use 您 with patients for respectful address
- Asking multiple questions at once — ask one question at a time for clarity
- Jumping to closed questions — start open (什么, 哪里) before narrowing to yes/no
FAQ
How do I practise taking a patient history in mandarin?
History taking is the foundation of clinical diagnosis. When communicating with Mandarin-speaking patients, using structured, clinically accurate Mandarin reduces misunderstanding, improves diagnostic accuracy, and builds patient trust.