소아과
soakwa
Pediatrics in Korean is 소아과 (soakwa).
The term 소아과 is commonly used to refer to both the medical specialty and the physical clinic or department itself.
Meaning: branch of medicine (noun)
Which one should you use?
어린이과 is also a formal term for pediatrics. The more formal and modern medical name for the department is 소아청소년과, which explicitly includes 'adolescents' (청소년).
How do you pronounce it?
soakwa
Did you know?
- In Korea, it is common for parents to visit a 소아과 for minor ailments that might be handled by a general practitioner in other countries.
- The word 소아 (so-a) used in 소아과 is a Hanja-based term for 'child' that is rarely used in daily conversation, where people prefer the native Korean word 아이 (ai).
- If you see a sign for 어린이과 (eo-rin-i-gwa), it is using the native Korean word for 'child' rather than the Sino-Korean 'so-a', making it feel slightly more approachable.
Examples in context
- 소아과에서 일하고 있습니다.I'm working in pediatrics.
- 우리 아이는 소아과에 가야 해요.uri aineun soagwae ga-ya hae-yo.My child needs to go to pediatrics.
- 그 의사는 소아과 전문의예요.geu uisa-neun soagwa jeonmuni-ye-yo.That doctor is a pediatrician.
- 근처에 있는 소아과가 어디예요?geuncheo-e inneun soagwa-ga eodi-ye-yo?Where is the nearby pediatrics clinic?
Example conversation
Subin asks Dohyeon about his sister's doctor.
- 수빈 Su-bin도현 씨, 동생은 어느 병원에 가요?Dohyeon ssi, dongsaeng-eun eoneu byeongwon-e ga-yo?Dohyeon, which hospital does your younger sister go to?
- 도현 Do-hyeon집 근처 소아과에 가요.Jip geuncheo soagwa-e ga-yo.She goes to the pediatrics near our house.
- 수빈 Su-bin그곳은 친절한가요?Geugot-eun chinjeol-han-ga-yo?Is it kind there?
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 선생님이 정말 친절하세요.Ne, seonsaengnim-i jeongmal chinjeol-ha-se-yo.Yes, the doctor is very kind.
