UNIT 7
Hospitals, Clinics & Pharmacies
Hospitals, Clinics & Pharmacies
Lesson 4: Reception, Health Insurance Card, and Forms
うけつけのながれ — Navigating the Front Desk
⏱️ About 25 minutes ／ 📊 Level: Beginner (N5) ／ 🗣️ Speaking + Reading
Before You Start
After arriving at a clinic, there is a standard check-in process: confirm your appointment, show your insurance card, receive a medical questionnaire, and wait to be called. This lesson gives you all the phrases you need to handle reception smoothly — including the two most important rescue phrases when things get confusing.
What you will learn:
- Confirm you have an appointment — 予約しています
- Say you don’t have an appointment — 予約していません
- Present your insurance card — 保険証です
- Understand the form request — 問診票を書いてください
- Say you don’t understand — わかりません
- Ask for help — 手伝ってください
- Ask if English is available — 英語はありますか
1. Key Phrases ／ きほんのフレーズ
予約しています。
Yoyaku shite imasu.
I have an appointment.
予約していません。
Yoyaku shite imasen.
I do not have an appointment.
保険証です。
Hokenshoo desu.
Here is my health insurance card.
問診票を書いてください。
Monshinpyoo o kaite kudasai.
Please fill out the medical questionnaire.
わかりません。
Wakarimasen.
I do not understand.
手伝ってください。
Tetsudatte kudasai.
Please help me.
英語はありますか。
Eego wa arimasu ka.
Do you have English? (Is there an English version?)
2. Phrase Notes ／ ポイント
① 予約しています vs 予約していません
These are the “-te imasu” form of 予約する (to make an appointment). 〜しています = currently in a state of having done something. So 予約しています = “I am in a state of having made an appointment” = “I have an appointment.” The negative is 〜していません.
② 保険証です — presenting the card
Simply hand over the card and say 保険証です. This is equivalent to “Here is my insurance card” in English. You can also say 保険証をどうぞ (“Please take my insurance card”) for a slightly warmer tone.
③ わかりません + 手伝ってください — the rescue combo
These two phrases together are your most important tool when you feel lost at reception. Say them one after the other: すみません、わかりません。手伝ってください. Staff will immediately switch to simpler language, point, or find someone who can help.
④ 英語はありますか — asking for English
This phrase asks whether an English option is available — an English-speaking staff member, an English form, or an English pamphlet. In large cities many clinics have these. In smaller areas, try showing your symptoms on a translation app as a backup.
⚠️ Common Mistake
わかりません means “I don’t understand” — not “I don’t know.” To say “I don’t know,” use 知りません. At a clinic, わかりません is always the right word when the instructions are unclear.
わかりません means “I don’t understand” — not “I don’t know.” To say “I don’t know,” use 知りません. At a clinic, わかりません is always the right word when the instructions are unclear.
3. Clinic Reception Flow ／ うけつけのながれ
Here is the typical check-in sequence at a Japanese clinic. Knowing what to expect makes every step easier.
1
Arrive and report to reception ／ 受付へ
Say: 予約しています。〇〇です。 (“I have an appointment. I’m 〇〇.”)
2
Present insurance card ／ 保険証
Hand it over and say: 保険証です。
3
Fill out the intake form ／ 問診票
If you don’t understand: すみません、わかりません。手伝ってください。
4
Wait to be called ／ 待合室で待つ
Your name will be called: 〇〇さん、どうぞ。 — go in when you hear it.
4. Conversation Practice ／ かいわ
💬 Conversation 1 — Checking In with an Appointment
💬 Conversation 2 — Walk-In Without Appointment
💬 Conversation 3 — Asking for Help with the Form
💬 Conversation 4 — Asking for English
5. Vocabulary ／ たんご
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 予約 | yoyaku | appointment |
| 受付 | uketsuke | reception desk |
| 保険証 | hokenshoo | health insurance card |
| 問診票 | monshinpyoo | medical questionnaire |
| わかりません | wakarimasen | I don’t understand |
| 手伝います | tetsudaimasu | help |
| 英語 | eego | English (language) |
| 待合室 | machiaishitsu | waiting room |
6. Check Your Understanding ／ クイズ
Think about each question first. Answers and explanations are shown below.
Q1. How do you say “I have an appointment” in Japanese?
A. 予約をください。 B. 予約したいです。 C. 予約しています。 D. 予約はありますか。
Answer: C
予約しています = “I have an appointment.” The 〜ています form expresses a state. D is the question “Do you have an appointment?”
予約しています = “I have an appointment.” The 〜ています form expresses a state. D is the question “Do you have an appointment?”
Q2. What does 「保険証です。」 mean in context?
A. Where is the insurance card? B. I don’t have an insurance card. C. Here is my health insurance card. D. Is this an insurance card?
Answer: C
保険証です = “Here is my insurance card.” Said while handing over the card — a very natural and efficient way to present it.
保険証です = “Here is my insurance card.” Said while handing over the card — a very natural and efficient way to present it.
Q3. What does 「わかりません。」 mean?
A. I don’t know the way. B. I don’t understand. C. I don’t have it. D. I don’t feel well.
Answer: B
わかりません = “I don’t understand.” Use this whenever instructions or questions are unclear. Always say it with すみません first to soften the tone.
わかりません = “I don’t understand.” Use this whenever instructions or questions are unclear. Always say it with すみません first to soften the tone.
Q4. How do you ask for help at reception?
A. 大丈夫ですか。 B. 手伝ってください。 C. 予約していません。 D. どうしましたか。
Answer: B
手伝ってください = “Please help me.” Pair with わかりません for maximum effect: すみません、わかりません。手伝ってください。
手伝ってください = “Please help me.” Pair with わかりません for maximum effect: すみません、わかりません。手伝ってください。
Q5. What does 「英語はありますか。」 mean?
A. Do you speak English? B. Do you have an English form? / Is there English? C. Is this English? D. Can you write in English?
Answer: B
英語はありますか = “Is there English? / Do you have an English version?” Used to ask if an English form, pamphlet, or English-speaking staff is available.
英語はありますか = “Is there English? / Do you have an English version?” Used to ask if an English form, pamphlet, or English-speaking staff is available.
Q6. The receptionist says 「問診票を書いてください。」 What should you do?
A. Wait in the waiting room. B. Show your insurance card. C. Fill out the medical questionnaire. D. Go to the examination room.
Answer: C
問診票を書いてください = “Please fill out the medical questionnaire.” If you don’t understand the form, say わかりません。手伝ってください.
問診票を書いてください = “Please fill out the medical questionnaire.” If you don’t understand the form, say わかりません。手伝ってください.
7. Match the Meaning ／ れんしゅう
予約しています。 → ______
予約していません。 → ______
保険証です。 → ______
問診票を書いてください。 → ______
わかりません。 → ______
手伝ってください。 → ______
英語はありますか。 → ______
Choices: A. Please fill out the questionnaire. B. I don’t understand. C. Do you have English? D. I don’t have an appointment. E. Here is my insurance card. F. Please help me. G. I have an appointment.
Answers: 予約しています = G ／ 予約していません = D ／ 保険証です = E ／ 問診票を書いてください = A ／ わかりません = B ／ 手伝ってください = F ／ 英語はありますか = C
🚀 Mini Mission
Today’s mission: Practice the complete reception check-in in Japanese.
Role-play this sequence with your teacher:
予約しています。〇〇です。／ 保険証です。／ （問診票）わかりません。手伝ってください。
📘 Review ／ まとめ
In this lesson you learned how to handle clinic reception from start to finish. The key phrases are:
予約しています。(I have an appointment.)
保険証です。(Here is my card.)
わかりません。(I don’t understand.)
手伝ってください。(Please help me.)
保険証です。(Here is my card.)
わかりません。(I don’t understand.)
手伝ってください。(Please help me.)
💡 The rescue combo わかりません。手伝ってください。 works in any situation where you feel lost — not just at clinics. Memorize it now and use it with confidence.
FAQ
Q. What is the difference between 予約しています and 予約があります?
Both mean “I have an appointment.” 予約しています is slightly more personal and natural (“I made a reservation and it’s active”). 予約があります is also understood. At reception, either is fine — the staff will understand both immediately.
Q. What happens if I make a mistake on the 問診票?
Don’t worry — just draw a single line through the mistake and write the correct information next to it. Or ask: 間違えました。手伝ってください (“I made a mistake. Please help me”). The doctor will also review your form in person and can clarify anything.
Q. My name is hard to say in Japanese. How should I say it?
Write your name in romaji or katakana on the form. When asked, say 名前は〇〇です and show the written form if pronunciation is tricky. Many clinics in major cities handle non-Japanese names regularly and will call you in a way they can manage.
🏥 Practice with a real teacher
Want to Practice with a Teacher?
Clinic reception takes practice to feel natural. Try a free trial lesson and role-play the full check-in process with a professional teacher.
Online or in-person — both available on request.