您呼吸困难多久了？
Nín hūxī kùnnán duō jiǔ le?
How long have you had difficulty breathing?
Doctor question
Respiratory symptoms
Shortness of breath in Mandarin — clinical doctor phrases
Shortness of breath (呼吸困难, hūxī kùnnán) or dyspnoea is a critical symptom requiring precise characterisation. This guide provides structured Mandarin phrases for breathlessness history taking.
Red flags
Acute severe dyspnoea — 急性严重呼吸困难; Cyanosis — 发绀; Stridor — 喘鸣
High-yield phrases
呼吸困难是在休息还是活动时？
Hūxī kùnnán shì zài xiūxi háishi huódòng shí?
Is it at rest or on exertion?
Doctor question
您平躺时呼吸困难加重吗？
Nín píngtǎng shí hūxī kùnnán jiāzhòng ma?
Is it worse when lying flat? (orthopnoea)
Doctor question
您夜间会因为呼吸困难而醒来吗？
Nín yèjiān huì yīnwèi hūxī kùnnán ér xǐnglái ma?
Do you wake at night with breathlessness? (PND)
Doctor question
您有胸痛吗？
Nín yǒu xiōng tòng ma?
Do you have chest pain?
Doctor question
我感觉喘不过气来
Wǒ gǎnjué chuǎn bùguò qì lái
I feel like I cannot catch my breath
Patient phrase
走路就觉得很喘
Zǒulù jiù juéde hěn chuǎn
I get breathless just walking
Patient phrase
Example clinical dialogue
doctor
您呼吸困难多久了？
Nín hūxī kùnnán duō jiǔ le?
How long have you had difficulty breathing?
patient
我感觉喘不过气来
Wǒ gǎnjué chuǎn bùguò qì lái
I feel like I cannot catch my breath
doctor
呼吸困难是在休息还是活动时？
Hūxī kùnnán shì zài xiūxi háishi huódòng shí?
Is it at rest or on exertion?
patient
走路就觉得很喘
Zǒulù jiù juéde hěn chuǎn
I get breathless just walking
doctor
您平躺时呼吸困难加重吗？
Nín píngtǎng shí hūxī kùnnán jiāzhòng ma?
Is it worse when lying flat? (orthopnoea)
Common mistakes
- Asking closed yes/no questions before establishing an open history of the symptom.
FAQ
How do I ask about shortness of breath in Mandarin?
Shortness of breath (呼吸困难, hūxī kùnnán) or dyspnoea is a critical symptom requiring precise characterisation. This guide provides structured Mandarin phrases for breathlessness history taking.