🦷 Learn Japanese Through Real Situations: Visiting a Dentist in Japan
- Binh Nguyen
- Mar 22
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 22
📝 Lesson Introduction
If you're living in Japan, you might need to see a dentist at some point — and that can be stressful if you're not confident in Japanese. In this lesson, we’ll walk through a realistic conversation: from checking in at the reception, explaining your symptoms, receiving treatment, to booking your next appointment.
🗣 Full Conversation: Visiting a Dentist in Japan
📍Part 1: At the Reception
🧑💼 受付:
こんにちは。健康保険証と診察券はお持ちですか？
Konnichiwa. Kenkō hokenshō to shinsatsuken wa omochi desu ka?
→ Hello. Do you have your health insurance card and patient ID card?
👤 患者:
保険証はありますが、ここは初めてなので診察券はありません。
Hokenshō wa arimasu ga, koko wa hajimete nanode shinsatsuken wa arimasen.
→ I have my insurance card, but it’s my first time here, so I don’t have a patient card.
🧑💼 受付:
かしこまりました。初診の方はこちらの用紙にご記入をお願いします。
Kashikomarimashita. Shoshin no kata wa kochira no yōshi ni go-ki'nyū o onegaishimasu.
→ Understood. For first-time patients, please fill out this form.
👤 患者:
はい、わかりました。
Hai, wakarimashita.
→ Okay, I understand.
📍Part 2: With the Dentist
🧑⚕️ 医者:
こんにちは。今日はどうされましたか？
Konnichiwa. Kyō wa dō saremashita ka?
→ Hello. What brings you in today?
👤 患者:
冷たい水を飲むとき、歯がしみます。特に下の奥歯あたりが痛いです。
Tsumetai mizu o nomu toki, ha ga shimimasu. Tokuni shita no okubā atari ga itai desu.
→ I feel pain when I drink cold water, especially around my lower molars.
🧑⚕️ 医者:
なるほど。ちょっと見てみましょうね。口を開けてください。
Naruhodo. Chotto mite mimashō ne. Kuchi o akete kudasai.
→ I see. Let me take a look. Please open your mouth.
👤 患者:
はい。
Hai.
→ Okay.
🧑⚕️ 医者:
この辺りですね？ここはどうですか？
Kono atari desu ne? Koko wa dō desu ka?
→ Around here, right? How about this spot?
👤 患者:
そこが一番しみます。
Soko ga ichiban shimimasu.
→ That spot is the most sensitive.
🧑⚕️ 医者:
歯の根元が少しすり減っていますね。強く磨きすぎたことが原因かもしれません。
Ha no nemoto ga sukoshi surihette imasu ne. Tsuyoku migakisugita koto ga gen'in kamo shiremasen.
→ The base of your tooth is slightly worn down. It might be caused by brushing too hard.
👤 患者:
そうなんですか…。気をつけます。
Sō nan desu ka... Ki o tsukemasu.
→ I see... I’ll be more careful.
🧑⚕️ 医者:
今日は薬を使ってしみるのを抑え、必要なところは詰め物をしますね。
Kyō wa kusuri o tsukatte shimiru no o osaete, hitsuyō na tokoro wa tsumemono o shimasu ne.
→ Today I’ll use medication to reduce the sensitivity and fill the necessary areas.
👤 患者:
お願いします。
Onegai shimasu.
→ Yes, please.
📍Part 3: Payment & Next Appointment
🧑💼 受付:
お疲れ様でした。診療は以上です。
Otsukaresama deshita. Shinryō wa ijō desu.
→ Thank you. Your treatment is finished.
🧑💼 受付:
次回の検診ですが、３ヶ月後のご予約をおすすめしております。ご都合いかがですか？
Jikai no kenshin desu ga, sankagetsu-go no go-yoyaku o osusume shite orimasu. Gotsugō ikaga desu ka?
→ For your next check-up, we recommend an appointment in 3 months. Would that work for you?
👤 患者:
はい、大丈夫です。予定を確認しますね。
Hai, daijōbu desu. Yotei o kakunin shimasu ne.
→ Sure, I’ll check my schedule.
👤 患者:
〇月〇日の午前10時でお願いしたいのですが。
___-gatsu ___-nichi no gozen 10-ji de onegai shitai no desu ga.
→ I’d like to book for ___ at 10 a.m. Is that available?
🧑💼 受付:
確認しますので、少々お待ちください。
Kakunin shimasu node, shōshō omachi kudasai.
→ Let me check. One moment, please.
🧑💼 受付:
はい、その日その時間でご予約可能です。
Hai, sono hi sono jikan de go-yoyaku kanō desu.
→ Yes, that date and time are available.
👤 患者:
では、それでお願いします。
Dewa, sore de onegai shimasu.
→ Great, please book it for me.
🧑💼 受付:
それでは、次回は〇月〇日の10時にお越しください。
Soredewa, jikai wa ___-gatsu ___-nichi no 10-ji ni okoshi kudasai.
→ Please come back on ___ at 10 a.m.
🧑💼 受付:
本日のお会計は〇〇円です。こちらでお支払いください。
Honjitsu no okaikei wa ___ en desu. Kochira de o-shiharai kudasai.
→ Your total today is ___ yen. Please pay here.
👤 患者:
はい、ありがとうございます。
Hai, arigatō gozaimasu.
→ Thank you very much.
🧑💼 受付:
お大事にしてください。
Odaiji ni shite kudasai.
→ Please take care and get well soon.
📌 Vocabulary & Key Phrases
1️⃣ At the Reception
健康保険証 (kenkō hokenshō) → Health insurance card
診察券 (shinsatsuken) → Patient ID card
初診 (shoshin) → First-time visit
📌 Example:
健康保険証と診察券はお持ちですか？
Kenkō hokenshō to shinsatsuken wa omochi desu ka?
Do you have your health insurance card and patient ID card?
2️⃣ During the Consultation
歯がしみる (ha ga shimiru) → Tooth sensitivity
根元 (nemoto) → Tooth root/base
すり減る (suriheru) → To wear down
📌 Example:
歯の根元が少しすり減っていますね。
Ha no nemoto ga sukoshi surihette imasu ne.
The base of your tooth is slightly worn down.
詰め物 (tsumemono) → Dental filling
📌 Example:
必要なところは詰め物をしますね。
Hitsuyō na tokoro wa tsumemono o shimasu ne.
We’ll apply a filling where needed.
3️⃣ Payment & Next Appointment
予約 (yoyaku) → Appointment
検診 (kenshin) → Check-up
予定 (yotei) → Schedule
確認する (kakunin suru) → To confirm
お会計 (okaikei) → Payment
お大事に (odaiji ni) → Take care
📌 Example:
次回の検診ですが、３ヶ月後のご予約をおすすめしております。
Jikai no kenshin desu ga, sankagetsu-go no go-yoyaku o osusume shite orimasu.
We recommend scheduling your next check-up in 3 months.
🎯 Lesson Wrap-up
With this practical conversation, you now have the tools to describe your dental symptoms, understand what the dentist says, and complete the whole process — even if it’s your first time in Japan. Practice reading the lines aloud to improve your speaking and listening confidence!
📌 Lesson by Bean JP.
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