想像一下，當您在國外旅行或工作時，突然感到身體不適，一陣劇烈的疼痛襲來。您走進當地的診所，卻發現自己無法用精確的英(文)向醫生描述症狀，只能焦急地指著身體，重複說著「pain」（痛）和「uncomfortable」（不舒服）。這種因語言隔閡而產生的無助感，不僅可能延誤正確的診斷，更可能在緊急情況下危及您的健康。
在全球化日益普及的今天，掌握實用的醫療英語已不再是醫護人員的專利，而是每個人都應具備的關鍵生活實力。它不僅關乎您能否在海外獲得及時適切的醫療照護，也代表著您能否主動掌握自己的健康狀況，並與全球的健康資訊接軌。
本文章作者將帶您從零開始，系統性地建立您的醫療英語知識庫。現在，讓我們一起開始這趟學習之旅，將醫療英語從一道障礙，變為守護您健康的有力工具。
I. 打好基礎：精準區分核心醫療詞彙
在深入學習具體的疾病名稱之前，我們必須先掌握幾個描述「生病」的核心概念與相關單字。這些詞彙看似相似，但在醫學語境下有著細微而關鍵的差別。理解它們的差異與用法，是精準溝通的第一步。
| 英文詞彙 | 中文意思 | 精確用法與區別 | 範例 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illness | 生病；疾病 | 指主觀上感覺「不舒服」的狀態，或泛指任何疾病。更強調病人自身的感受。常做不可數名詞，指生病的狀態。 | She was unable to attend the meeting due to sudden illness. (她因突然生病而無法參加會議。) |
| Disease | 疾病 | 指客觀上、可被醫生診斷出的特定病症，有具體的病理原因。可用於人類、動物甚至植物。 | Heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. (心臟病是全球主要的死亡原因之一。) |
| Ailment | 小病；微恙 | 通常指輕微且不太嚴重的疾病或病痛，是可數名詞。 | The flu is a common ailment that can be treated with rest. (流感是一種常見的小病，可以透過休息治癒。) |
| Disorder | 失調；紊亂 | 指身體或心理功能的失常、紊亂，不一定有明確的外部病因。常用於精神或功能性問題。 | Depression is a common mental disorder. (憂鬱症是一種常見的精神障礙。) |
| Condition | 狀況；疾病 | 一個較中性的詞，常用來指長期存在的健康問題或慢性病。 | He has a chronic heart condition. (他有慢性的心臟問題。) |
| Symptom | 症狀 | 患者主觀的感受，是自己能察覺並向醫生描述的不適，例如疼痛、噁心、頭暈。 | A fever is a common symptom of infection. (發燒是感染的常見症狀。) |
| Sign | 徵候；體徵 | 醫生或其他觀察者可測量或觀察到的客觀證據，例如發燒的度數、皮疹、血壓升高等。 | The doctor checked for signs of dehydration. (醫生檢查是否有脫水的跡象。) |
| cystitis | 膀胱炎 | 屬於泌尿系統的發炎性疾病。 | Drinking enough water can help prevent cystitis. (飲用足夠的水有助於預防膀胱炎。) |
同樣是「痛」，用法大不同：Ache vs. Pain vs. Sore
| 英文詞彙 | 中文意思 | 強度、用法與影響程度 | 範例 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pain | 疼痛 | 最通用的詞，可描述任何強度和類型的疼痛，從輕微到劇烈、從短暫到持續。 | I feel a sharp pain in my chest. (我感覺胸口一陣刺痛。) |
| Ache | (持續的)痠痛、鈍痛 | 通常指持續性、深層的鈍痛，強度多為中等。常與身體部位結合形成複合詞。 | I have a terrible headache. (我頭痛得厲害。) |
| Sore | (發炎性的)疼痛 | 主要作形容詞，描述因發炎、過度使用或輕微損傷引起的觸痛或不適。 | My throat is very sore. (我的喉嚨很痛。) / My muscles are sore from the gym. (健身後我肌肉痠痛。) |
II. 各系統常見疾病英文詞彙大全
掌握按身體系統分類的疾病詞彙，能幫助您在就醫時更有條理地描述問題所在。以下將常見疾病分為多個方面，並提供相關詞彙與例句。
1. 消化系統 (Digestive System)
| 疾病英文 | 中文意思 | 實用例句 |
|---|---|---|
| Gastritis | 胃炎 | Spicy food can sometimes trigger my gastritis. (辣的食物有時會引發我的胃炎。) |
| Stomach Ulcer | 胃潰瘍 | Stress is thought to worsen stomach ulcers. (壓力被認為會使胃潰瘍惡化。) |
| Stomach Cancer (Gastric Cancer) | 胃癌 | Early diagnosis of stomach cancer significantly improves the prognosis. (胃癌的早期診斷顯著改善預後。) |
| Diarrhea | 腹瀉 | I’ve had diarrhea since this morning after eating something bad. (今天早上喫了不乾淨的東西後，我就一直在腹瀉。) |
| Constipation | 便祕 | A lack of fiber in the diet can lead to constipation. (飲食中缺乏纖維會導致便祕。) |
| Indigestion / Heartburn | 消化不良／胃灼熱 | I often get heartburn after a heavy meal. (我常在喫完大餐後感到胃灼熱。) |
| Appendicitis | 闌尾炎（盲腸炎） | Acute appendicitis requires immediate surgery. (急性闌尾炎需要立即手術。) |
| Gallstones | 膽結石 | She had to have surgery to remove her gallstones. (她必須接受手術移除膽結石。) |
2. 神經系統 (Nervous System)
| 疾病英文 | 中文意思 | 實用例句 |
|---|---|---|
| Headache / Migraine | 頭痛／偏頭痛 | Bright lights and loud noises can trigger her migraines. (強光和噪音會引發她的偏頭痛。) |
| Stroke | 中風 | Recognizing the signs of a stroke early can save a life. (及早識別中風的跡象可以挽救生命。) |
| Epilepsy / Seizure | 癲癇／癲癇發作 | He takes medication daily to control his epilepsy. (他每天服藥以控制癲癇。) |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | 阿茲海默症 | My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year. (我祖母去年被診斷出患有阿茲海默症。) |
| Parkinson’s Disease | 帕金森氏症 | Parkinson’s disease affects movement, causing tremors and stiffness. (帕金森氏症會影響行動，導致顫抖和僵硬。) |
| Concussion | 腦震盪 | The football player suffered a mild concussion after the hit. (那名足球員在撞擊後遭受了輕微腦震盪。) |
| Dementia | 失智症 | Dementia is a general term for loss of memory and other mental abilities, which can have a major impact on the individual and society. (失智症是記憶力及其他心智能力喪失的總稱，可能對個人與社會造成重大影響。) |
3. 心血管系統 (Cardiovascular System)
心血管疾病(Cardiovascular disease)是影響心臟和血管健康的統稱，是全球健康領域的重要議題。
| 疾病英文 | 中文意思 | 實用例句 |
|---|---|---|
| Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) | 高血壓 | Regular exercise can help lower hypertension. (規律運動有助於降低高血壓。) |
| Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure) | 低血壓 | She often feels dizzy due to hypotension. (她因為低血壓而時常感到頭暈。) |
| Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) | 心肌梗塞 | Chest pain radiating to the left arm is a classic sign of a heart attack. (輻射到左臂的胸痛是心肌梗塞的典型跡象。) |
| Arrhythmia | 心律不整 | Caffeine can sometimes cause arrhythmia in sensitive individuals. (咖啡因有時會導致敏感個體心律不整。) |
| Atherosclerosis | 動脈硬化 | Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fats and cholesterol in your artery walls. (動脈硬化是脂肪和膽固醇在動脈壁上的積聚。) |
| High Cholesterol | 高膽固醇 | His doctor advised him to change his diet to manage his high cholesterol. (他的醫生建議他改變飲食來控制高膽固醇。) |
4. 呼吸及耳鼻喉系統 (Respiratory & ENT System)
| 疾病英文 | 中文意思 | 實用例句 |
|---|---|---|
| Cold / Flu (Influenza) | 感冒／流感 | The flu has much more severe symptoms than a common cold. (流感的症狀比普通感冒嚴重得多。) |
| Bronchitis | 支氣管炎 | His chronic bronchitis causes a persistent cough, especially in the morning. (他的慢性支氣管炎導致持續性咳嗽，尤其是在早上。) |
| Asthma | 氣喘 | He always carries an inhaler for his asthma. (他總是隨身攜帶吸入器以備氣喘發作。) |
| Allergy / Rhinitis | 過敏／鼻炎 | Pollen is a common trigger for allergic rhinitis. (花粉是過敏性鼻炎的常見誘因。) |
| Sinusitis | 鼻竇炎 | I have facial pain and pressure because of my sinusitis. (我的鼻竇炎導致臉部疼痛和有壓迫感。) |
| Tonsillitis / Sore Throat | 扁桃腺炎／喉嚨痛 | She has a high fever and a very sore throat due to tonsillitis. (她因扁桃腺炎而高燒且喉嚨劇痛。) |
| Otitis Media | 中耳炎 | Young children are particularly prone to otitis media after a cold. (幼童在感冒後特別容易得到中耳炎。) |
5. 肝臟、肺部及腎臟系統 (Liver, Lung, & Kidney System)
| 疾病英文 | 中文意思 | 實用例句 |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis | 肝炎 | There are several types of hepatitis, caused by different viruses. (肝炎有數種類型，由不同病毒引起。) |
| Pneumonia | 肺炎 | Pneumonia is a serious lung infection. (肺炎是一種嚴重的肺部感染。) |
| Lung Cancer | 肺癌 | Smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer. (吸菸是導致肺癌的主要風險因子。) |
| Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) | 尿道感染 | Drinking plenty of water can help prevent UTIs. (多喝水有助於預防尿道感染。) |
| Kidney Stones | 腎結石 | Passing a kidney stone can be extremely painful. (排出腎結石的過程可能極度疼痛。) |
6. 皮膚疾病 (Dermatological Diseases)
| 疾病英文 | 中文意思 | 實用例句 |
|---|---|---|
| Eczema | 濕疹 | This cream should help soothe the itchiness of your eczema. (這款藥膏應該有助於舒緩您濕疹的搔癢。) |
| Acne | 痤瘡（青春痘） | Many teenagers suffer from acne during puberty. (許多青少年在青春期會長青春痘。) |
| Psoriasis | 乾癬（牛皮癬） | Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin condition. (乾癬是一種慢性的自體免疫皮膚疾病。) |
| Rash / Hives | 皮疹／蕁麻疹 | He broke out in a rash after eating seafood. (他喫完海鮮後身上起了皮疹。) |
| Fungal Infection | 真菌感染 | Athlete’s foot is a type of fungal infection. (香港腳是一種真菌感染。) |
| Melanoma | 黑色素瘤 | Early detection of melanoma is critical for successful treatment. (及早發現黑色素瘤對於成功治療至關重要。) |
7. 眼科疾病 (Ophthalmic Diseases)
| 疾病英文 | 中文意思 | 實用例句 |
|---|---|---|
| Myopia (Nearsightedness) | 近視 | He wears glasses to correct his myopia. (他戴眼鏡來矯正近視。) |
| Hyperopia (Farsightedness) | 遠視 | My grandfather needs reading glasses because of hyperopia. (我爺爺因為遠視而需要老花眼鏡。) |
| Astigmatism | 散光 | Astigmatism can cause blurry vision at all distances. (散光會導致看任何距離的物體都模糊不清。) |
| Cataract | 白內障 | Cataract surgery involves replacing the cloudy lens of the eye. (白內障手術是置換眼睛混濁的水晶體。) |
| Glaucoma | 青光眼 | Glaucoma can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. (青光眼會損害視神經並導致視力喪失。) |
| Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) | 結膜炎（紅眼症） | Conjunctivitis is highly contagious, so wash your hands frequently. (結膜炎傳染性很強，所以要勤洗手。) |
8. 骨關節疾病 (Musculoskeletal Diseases)
| 疾病英文 | 中文意思 | 實用例句 |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis | 關節炎 | She suffers from arthritis in her knees, which makes walking painful. (她的膝蓋患有關節炎，導致行走疼痛。) |
| Osteoporosis | 骨質疏鬆症 | Osteoporosis increases the risk of fractures. (骨質疏鬆症會增加骨折的風險。) |
| Fracture | 骨折 | The X-ray confirmed a fracture in his arm. (X光片確認他的手臂有骨折。) |
| Sprain / Strain | 扭傷／拉傷 | I got a bad ankle sprain while playing basketball. (我打籃球時嚴重扭傷了腳踝。) |
| Dislocation | 脫臼 | He suffered a shoulder dislocation during the fall. (他在摔倒時肩膀脫臼了。) |
| Herniated Disc | 椎間盤突出 | A herniated disc in his lower back causes him severe pain. (他下背部的椎間盤突出導致他劇烈疼痛。) |
9. 其他常見疾病與狀況
| 疾病英文 | 中文意思 | 實用例句 |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 糖尿病 | He needs to monitor his blood sugar levels because he has diabetes. (他因為有糖尿病，需要監測自己的血糖水平。) |
| Cancer | 癌症 | She is undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. (她正在接受乳癌的化學治療。) |
| Anemia | 貧血 | Fatigue and weakness are common symptoms of anemia. (疲勞和虛弱是貧血的常見症狀。) |
| Insomnia | 失眠症 | He has been suffering from insomnia for weeks. (他已經失眠好幾個禮拜了。) |
| Anxiety / Depression (Mental Illness) | 焦慮症／憂鬱症 (心理疾病) | Seeking therapy is an important step in managing a mental illness like depression. (尋求治療是管理像憂鬱症這類心理疾病的重要一步。) |
| Hyperthyroidism | 甲狀腺功能亢進 | Weight loss and a rapid heartbeat can be symptoms of hyperthyroidism. (體重減輕和心跳過快可能是甲狀腺功能亢進的症狀。) |
10. 健康與預防相關詞彙
| 英文詞彙 | 中文意思 | 實用例句 |
|---|---|---|
| Vaccination / Vaccine | 疫苗接種／疫苗 | The annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone. (建議所有人都接種年度流感疫苗。) |
| Antibiotics | 抗生素 | Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections, not viruses. (抗生素只對細菌感染有效，對病毒無效。) |
| Rehabilitation | 復健 | After the surgery, he will need several months of physical rehabilitation. (手術後，他將需要數個月的物理復健。) |
| Immunity | 免疫力 | A healthy lifestyle is key to building strong immunity. (健康的生活方式是建立強大免疫力的關鍵。) |
| Screening | 篩檢 | Regular cancer screening can detect the disease at an early stage. (定期的癌症篩檢可以在早期發現疾病。) |
| Prevention | 預防 | Prevention is always better than cure. (預防勝於治療。) |
III. 實戰演練：從預約到領藥的英文看診全攻略
學會了單字，下一步就是將它們應用在真實的對話中。以下我們將就醫過程拆解為四個階段，並提供各階段的實用句型與對話範例。
階段一：預約門診 (Making an Appointment)
無論是電話或現場預約，清楚表達您的需求、身分和症狀是成功預約的關鍵。
常用句型：
- I’d like to make an appointment to see a doctor. (我想要預約看醫生。)
- My name is [Your Name], and I’m a new patient. (我的名字是[你的名字]，我是新病患。)
- I’ve been experiencing [symptom], and I think I need to be seen. (我一直有[症狀]，我覺得我需要給醫生看一下。)
- Do you have any availability this afternoon/tomorrow? (今天下午／明天有空檔嗎？)
- Is it possible to see Dr. Chen? (可以預約陳醫師的門診嗎？)
- What information do I need to bring? (我需要帶什麼資料嗎？)
對話範例：
Receptionist: Good morning, Community Clinic. How may I help you?
(接待員：早安，社區診所，請問有什麼能幫您的嗎？)
You: Hi, I’d like to make an appointment. I’ve been having a severe cough and a fever for two days.
(您：你好，我想預約。我已經嚴重咳嗽和發燒兩天了。)
Receptionist: I see. We have an opening with Dr. Evans at 3:30 PM today. Would that work for you?
(接待員：瞭解。今天下午3點半伊凡斯醫生有一個空檔，您可以嗎？)
You: Yes, that’s perfect. Thank you.
(您：可以，太好了。謝謝您。)
Receptionist: Great. Please bring your ID and insurance card, and try to arrive 15 minutes early to fill out some paperwork as a new patient.
(接待員：好的。請攜帶您的證件和保險卡，並請提早15分鐘到達以填寫新病患的資料。)
階段二：陳述病情與症狀 (Describing Your Condition)
這是整個看診過程中最重要的一環。描述得越清晰，醫生越能做出準確的判斷。
描述疼痛的句型：
- 位置： The pain is in my lower back / right shoulder / stomach. (我的下背／右肩／胃部疼痛。)
- 性質： It’s a sharp (刺痛) / dull (鈍痛) / throbbing (抽痛) / burning (灼痛) pain.
- 強度： On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain is about an 8. (如果疼痛是1到10分，大概是8分。)
- 時間： It started three days ago. It’s constant / It comes and goes. (三天前開始的。疼痛是持續的／一陣一陣的。)
- 誘因： It hurts when I breathe deeply / move my arm / press on it. (當我深呼吸／移動手臂／按壓時會痛。)
對話範例：
Doctor: So, what seems to be the problem today?
(醫生：那麼，今天有什麼問題呢？)
You: I’ve had this terrible headache since yesterday morning. In terms of the pain, it’s a throbbing pain, mainly on the right side of my head. (在疼痛方面，這是一種抽痛，主要在頭的右側。)
(您：從昨天早上開始我就有很嚴重的頭痛。在疼痛方面，是一種抽痛，主要在頭的右側。)
Doctor: On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is it?
(醫生：1到10分的話，有多嚴重？)
You: Right now, it’s about a 7. I also feel nauseous and very sensitive to light.
(您：現在大概是7分。我也覺得噁心，而且對光線很敏感。)
Doctor: Have you experienced this before? Do you have a family history of migraines?
(醫生：你以前有過這種情況嗎？有家族偏頭痛病史嗎？)
階段三：理解醫師診斷與治療方案 (Understanding the Diagnosis)
仔細聆聽醫生的診斷，若有不明白的地方，一定要勇於提問。
常用句型：
- What does that mean, exactly? (那具體是什麼意思？)
- Could you explain that in simpler terms? (您能用更簡單的說法解釋嗎？)
- Is this condition serious? (這個狀況嚴重嗎？)
- What is the treatment method? (治療方法是什麼？)
- Are there any side effects of the medication? (藥物有任何副作用嗎？)
- Do I need to come back for a follow-up? (我需要回來複診嗎？)
對話範例：
Doctor: Based on your symptoms, it sounds like you have a classic migraine. I’m going to prescribe a medication to help with the pain.
(醫生：根據您的症狀，聽起來是典型的偏頭痛。我會開一些藥來幫您緩解疼痛。)
You: Is it something I need to worry about long-term? What is the best treatment method?
(您：這是我需要長期擔心的問題嗎？最好的治療方法是什麼？)
Doctor: Migraines can be chronic, but they are manageable. I recommend you keep a diary to track potential triggers, like certain foods or lack of sleep. Take this medication as soon as you feel a migraine starting.
(醫生：偏頭痛可能是慢性的，但可以控制。我建議您寫日記來追蹤可能的誘因，例如特定食物或睡眠不足。一旦感覺到偏頭痛要發作就立刻服藥。)
階段四：藥局領藥溝通 (At the Pharmacy)
領藥時，務必向藥師確認藥物的使用方式。
常用句型：
- I’m here to pick up a prescription for [Your Name]. (我來為[你的名字]領處方藥。)
- How should I take this medication? (我該如何服用此藥？)
- Should I take it with food or on an empty stomach? (我該飯後喫還是空腹喫？)
- What are the common side effects? (常見的副作用有哪些？)
- What should I do if I miss a dose? (如果我忘記喫一次藥該怎麼辦？)
- Can I drink alcohol with this medication? (服藥期間可以喝酒嗎？)
對話範例：
Pharmacist: Hello, here is your amoxicillin. This is an antibiotic. You should take one capsule three times a day for seven days.
(藥師：您好，這是您的阿莫西林。這是一種抗生素。您應該一天服用三次，一次一顆，連續服用七天。)
You: Should I take it with food?
(您：需要飯後喫嗎？)
Pharmacist: Yes, it’s best to take it with a meal to avoid stomach upset. Be sure to finish the entire course of antibiotics, even if you start feeling better.
(藥師：是的，最好與食物共服以避免腸胃不適。即使您感覺好轉了，也務必服完整個療程的抗生素。)
IV. 常見問題與進階學習 (FAQs)
1. 如何更有效地學習和記憶這些醫藥英文單字？
學習字根字首： 醫學詞彙大量源自拉丁文和希臘文。掌握關鍵字根（如 cardio- 心臟，gastro- 胃，neuro- 神經）和字尾（如 -itis 發炎，-ology 學科，-ectomy 切除），能讓您觸類旁通，即使遇到生字也能猜出大概意思。
情境式學習： 將單字放在真實的就醫情境中記憶，例如，在腦中模擬一次看牙醫的完整對話，練習所有相關詞彙。這對準備像toeic這類考試中的生活情境題也很有幫助。
製作個人醫療筆記： 記錄下與自身健康狀況相關的詞彙，如慢性病、過敏史、常用藥物等。這些是您最可能用到的高頻詞彙，應優先熟記。
2. 若遇到本指南未提及的罕見疾病或專業術語，建議查閱哪些可靠的線上資源？
遇到不確定的醫學術語時，切勿依賴不可靠的網路翻譯。以下是一些權威的線上資源，其內容皆基於嚴謹的科學研究：
- MedlinePlus (medlineplus.gov): 由美國國家醫學圖書館維護，提供易於理解的疾病資訊、藥物說明和醫學百科，內容權威且有多語言選項。
- Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.org): 世界知名的醫療機構網站，其疾病和症狀指南內容詳盡、準確、可信度高。
- WebMD (webmd.com): 雖然是商業網站，但其「症狀檢查器」(Symptom Checker) 和藥物資訊非常實用，適合初步瞭解。
3. 「流行病」的英文是 epidemic 還是 pandemic？
兩者都是指流行病，但規模不同。
Epidemic 指在特定地區或社羣內迅速傳播的疾病。例如，某個城市的流感大爆發。
Pandemic 則是指跨越國界、全球性**的大規模流行病。例如，COVID-19。
總結
掌握醫療英語是一項賦予您力量的技能。它讓您在面對健康挑戰時，能夠跨越語言的障礙，清晰地表達需求，準確地理解資訊，從而為自己和家人的健康做出最好的決定。本指南為您提供了一張詳盡的學習地圖，從核心詞彙的辨析，到各大系統疾病的歸納，再到實戰看診的完整流程。
然而，學習永無止境。醫學知識日新月異，我們鼓勵您將這份指南作為起點，持續保持好奇心，利用可靠的資源不斷擴充您的醫療詞彙庫。當您下一次在國外需要醫療協助，或在閱讀一篇英文健康報導時，您會發現，今天付出的努力，將為您帶來十足的信心與安心。因為您不僅學會了一種語言，更掌握了一把守護自身健康的鑰匙。
