Travel dental guides
The dentist’s chair phrasebook: 15 Korean words worth knowing
From “it hurts here” to the tooth Koreans name after first love. Point, say it, smile.
You do not need Korean at Guardians Dental: our international team handles English and replies with translation support for other languages. Still, a few words help anywhere in Korea: “i-ga apayo” (my tooth hurts), “siryeoyo” (it feels sensitive) and “yeogi-ga apayo” (it hurts here).
Saying where it hurts
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 치과 | chi-gwa | Dental clinic |
| 이가 아파요 | i-ga a-pa-yo | My tooth hurts |
| 여기가 아파요 | yeo-gi-ga a-pa-yo | It hurts here (point!) |
| 시려요 | si-ryeo-yo | It feels sensitive (cold or sharp) |
| 잇몸 | it-mom | Gums |
| 충치 | chung-chi | Cavity (literally “insect tooth”) |
What you will hear in the chair
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 아 하세요 | a ha-se-yo | Open wide, say “ah” |
| 헹구세요 | heng-gu-se-yo | Please rinse |
| 마취 | ma-chwi | Anaesthetic |
| 잠깐만요 | jam-kkan-man-yo | Wait a moment (use it if you need a break) |
| 괜찮아요 | gwaen-cha-na-yo | I’m okay |
At the front desk
| Korean | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 예약 | ye-yak | Booking |
| 얼마예요? | eol-ma-ye-yo? | How much is it? |
| 영수증 | yeong-su-jeung | Receipt (ask for one in English for insurance) |
The best word: 사랑니
Wisdom teeth in Korean are sarang-ni, literally “love teeth”. They usually come through in the late teens or twenties, around the age of first love, and like first love they can hurt. In Japanese they are oyashirazu, “the teeth your parents never know”, because they arrive after you have left home. Read our wisdom-tooth guide if yours are making themselves felt.
No Korean? No problem
At Guardians Dental our international team speaks English, and if you write to us in Japanese, Thai or another language, we reply with translation support. Save this page anyway: it makes a fun conversation starter with the nurses.
Questions people ask
How do you say toothache in Korean?
“I-ga apayo” (이가 아파요) means “my tooth hurts”. Add “yeogi-ga” and point: “yeogi-ga apayo”, “it hurts here”.
Do I need to speak Korean at Guardians Dental?
No. Our international team handles English and replies with translation support for Japanese, Thai and other languages.
Why are wisdom teeth called love teeth in Korean?
Sarang-ni means “love tooth”: they appear around the age of first love, and can be just as painful.
iUpdated 15 October 2026. Opening hours and prices of places outside the clinic can change; check on the day.
