Key Facts
- Hangul: 의사; Revised Romanization: uisa
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 醫師 (醫 medicine + 師 master)
- Register: Neutral; as a title use 의사 선생님 or just 선생님 to address them.
Doctor in Korean: What Does 의사 Mean?
의사 is a noun that covers both "doctor" and "physician". It is neutral in register. For polite address you add 선생님, giving 의사 선생님, or you use 선생님 alone.
How Do You Pronounce 의사?
Two syllables, ui-sa. The first syllable begins with the 의 vowel, which Revised Romanization writes as ui. The second is a plain sa.
Example Sentences with 의사
의사는 병원에서 일해요.
uisaneun byeongwoneseo ilhaeyo.
The doctor works at the hospital.
A statement of where a doctor works. 병원에서 marks the place of the action, and the sentence is simple present.
의사 선생님을 만났어요.
uisa seonsaengnimeul mannasseoyo.
I met the doctor.
The honorific form 의사 선생님 shows up here as the object of a meeting, the natural way to mention a doctor politely.
제 꿈은 의사예요.
je kkumeun uisayeyo.
My dream is to be a doctor.
An ambition: 제 꿈은 begins the sentence and 의사예요 finishes it, with 예요 following the vowel-final noun.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Three combinations are common. 의사 선생님 is the polite way to refer to a doctor. 의사가 되다 means to become one, and 의사에게 진찰받다 means to see a doctor and be examined.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 의사 선생님 | doctor (polite) |
| 의사가 되다 | to become a doctor |
| 의사에게 진찰받다 | to see a doctor |
The Mistake to Avoid
Mistake: calling out to a doctor as 의사, the job title. Correct: address the person as 선생님 or 의사 선생님. A separate trap is that 의사 is also the sound of a different word meaning "intention".
의사 Compared with Related Words
Two words sit close to 의사 in meaning or sound. The first is a homophone, the second is a place rather than a person.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 의사 | doctor | This page's word |
| 의사 (意思) | intention | 의사 is also a homophone meaning intention. |
| 의원 | clinic | 의원 is a small clinic; 의사 is the doctor. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
의사 is Sino-Korean, written with the hanja 醫師: 醫 means medicine and 師 means master. The homophone for "intention" is written 意思 in hanja, but the doctor sense is the one you will meet first.
In the Consultation Room
A patient has reached the doctor and explains why they came. The patient uses 선생님 to address the doctor, while the doctor asks a short question about the symptom.
Patient:
선생님, 목이 아파요.
Seonsaengnim, mogi apayo.
Doctor, my throat hurts.
Doctor:
언제부터 아팠어요?
Eonjebuteo apasseoyo?
When did it start hurting?
Patient:
어제부터요.
Eojebuteoyo.
Since yesterday.
Doctor:
입을 벌려 주세요.
Ibeul beollyeo juseyo.
Please open your mouth.
선생님 can mean “teacher,” but the clinic setting makes “doctor” the natural English translation here. 언제부터 asks “since when,” and the short answer keeps 부터, “since,” after 어제, “yesterday.” The last line is a request during an examination. These lines teach a consultation exchange, not a diagnosis.
Naming the Profession and Addressing the Person
의사 names a profession. You can use it when someone asks about your job, when describing a character in a drama, or when explaining an ambition. 선생님 addresses the person respectfully. The same doctor can therefore be 의사 in a description and 선생님 when you speak directly to them.
의사 선생님 combines the job name with the respectful title. The longer form is helpful when you need to make clear which professional you mean. Once you are talking to the doctor in a consultation room, 선생님 alone is usually clear from the situation.
The English title “Dr.” also appears before the names of people with academic doctorates. Korean 박사 names that qualification. A 박사 is not necessarily an 의사, and calling someone a doctor in an academic context does not mean they treat patients.
Phrases in Appointments and Medical Dramas
의사가 되다 means “to become a doctor.” The marker 가 belongs to the pattern with 되다, “become.” Compare that with 의사예요, “is a doctor,” in the earlier example about a dream. One phrase describes becoming a professional; the other identifies the profession.
의사에게 진찰받다 means to be examined by a doctor. 에게 marks the person from whom you receive the examination. 진료 예약 means a medical appointment or consultation booking. Seeing a booking label tells you about arranging a visit, while 의사 names the professional involved.
치과 의사 means “dentist,” literally a doctor in dental medicine. 수의사 means “veterinarian.” These job names help when the English word “doctor” is too broad. A pet's doctor is a 수의사; you would not normally describe the vet simply as your own 의사.
People and Places around a Doctor
| Korean | Meaning | How it differs from 의사 |
|---|---|---|
| 환자 | patient | The person receiving medical care. |
| 간호사 | nurse | Another healthcare profession, with its own job title. |
| 병원 | hospital; medical clinic | A place for care, rather than the doctor. |
| 약국 | pharmacy | A place associated with medicines and pharmacists. |
The health vocabulary lesson introduces words for a visit, while Jobs and Occupations places 의사 beside other professions. In a medical drama, these distinctions help you track who is speaking and whether a scene concerns a person, an appointment, or a location.
Quick Self-Test
- What can you call a doctor when speaking directly to them?
- Does 박사 always mean a medical doctor?
- Which word is the patient: 환자 or 의사?
Show answers
- 선생님 or 의사 선생님.
- No. 박사 refers to a doctorate or its holder.
- 환자 is the patient; 의사 is the doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "doctor" in Korean?
Say 의사 (uisa). It also covers "physician".
How do you address a doctor?
Use 선생님 or 의사 선생님, not 의사 alone.
Is there another 의사?
Yes. 의사 (意思) means intention. It is a homophone, so context decides.
What is the difference between 의사 and 의원?
의사 is the doctor. 의원 is a small clinic.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Jobs and Occupations places 의사 with the other words of its topic.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Flashcards: put 의사 into the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next entry: The jobs list continues with the driver, so move on to driver.