Going to the dentist in Japan: Japanese phrases

How Yoko opens the conversation

Yoko always speaks first. This is the scene's own opening line, with a reply you could give back at the same level:

• 

  どのあたりが痛いたみますか？奥歯おくばですか？

  Dono atari ga itamimasu ka? Okuba desu ka?

  Whereabouts does it hurt? A back tooth?

  You could say

  はい、右みぎの奥おくが冷つめたい物ものでしみます。

  Hai, migi no oku ga tsumetai mono de shimimasu.

  Yes — the back right stings with cold things.

Other ways it can begin

No two conversations go the same way, and the first line changes too. Each of these can open the scene:

• 

  痛いたみ止どめは飲のみましたか？少すこし楽らくですか？

  Itamidome wa nomimashita ka? Sukoshi raku desu ka?

  Did you take a painkiller? Is it a bit easier?

  You could say

  はい、さっき飲のみました。

  Hai, sakki nomimashita.

  Yes, I took one a little while ago.

• 

  歯医者はいしゃさんは平気へいきですか？私わたしは少すこし苦手にがてです。

  Haisha-san wa heiki desu ka? Watashi wa sukoshi nigate desu.

  Are you okay with dentists? I'm a little scared of them.

  You could say

  私わたしも少すこし苦手にがてです。

  Watashi mo sukoshi nigate desu.

  I'm a little scared of them too.

• 

  冷つめたい水みずを飲のむと、痛いたみますか？

  Tsumetai mizu o nomu to, itamimasu ka?

  Does it hurt when you drink cold water?

  You could say

  はい、とても痛いたみます。

  Hai, totemo itamimasu.

  Yes, it hurts a lot.

• 

  名前なまえを呼よばれたら、私わたしも一緒いっしょに入はいりますね。

  Namae o yobaretara, watashi mo issho ni hairimasu ne.

  When they call your name, I'll go in with you.

  You could say

  ありがとうございます。助たすかります。

  Arigatō gozaimasu. Tasukarimasu.

  Thank you. That's a big help.

• 

  一週間いっしゅうかんも痛いたかったんですね。よく我慢がまんしましたね。

  Isshūkan mo itakatta n desu ne. Yoku gaman shimashita ne.

  It hurt for a whole week, huh. You really put up with a lot.

  You could say

  はい、だんだん痛いたくなりました。

  Hai, dandan itaku narimashita.

  Yes, it gradually got more painful.

Phrases worth knowing here

Lines for what you do at the dental clinic, each with when you'd say it.

• 右みぎの奥歯おくばが痛いたいんです。migi no okuba ga itai n desu.My back tooth on the right hurts.Say this to the dentist when asked where it hurts; swap 右 for 左 as needed.
• 一週間いっしゅうかんくらい前まえからです。isshūkan kurai mae kara desu.It started about a week ago.Answering when the dentist asks since when it's been hurting.
• 冷つめたい物ものがしみます。tsumetai mono ga shimimasu.Cold things make it sting.Describing the kind of pain during the exam.
• 麻酔ますいをお願ねがいできますか。masui o onegai dekimasu ka.Could I have anesthetic, please?Ask before treatment starts if you're worried about pain.
• 今日きょうは抜ぬかないですよね？kyō wa nukanai desu yo ne?You're not pulling it today, right?A slightly nervous check with the dentist or with Yoko in the waiting room.

Words you'll hear

How polite to be

polite Here Yoko speaks polite Japanese: です and ます, the way people talk with strangers, neighbors, and coworkers, and the replies suggested to you match the level you'd use back. The guide to keigo explains the three levels, and when each is right.

More scenes with Yoko

• First day at the office陽子（ようこ） · Officepolite
• Planning a trip陽子（ようこ） · Travel agencyformal
• Celebrating a finished project陽子（ようこ） · Izakayacasual
• Opening an account陽子（ようこ） · Bankpolite
• Registering where you live陽子（ようこ） · Ward officepolite
• A stain before a meeting陽子（ようこ） · Dry cleanerpolite
• Checking in陽子（ようこ） · Airportformal
• A job interview陽子（ようこ） · Interview roomformal
• A hot spring getaway陽子（ようこ） · Hot spring townformal

Or see every scene, with all four characters.