A2-56 / CEFR A2 / EPISODE 56

Doctor's Visit

Explaining the course of symptoms

SceneAt a clinic. Frank has stomach pain; a worried Tina accompanies him.

Frank holds his stomach while Tina talks to a doctor in an examination room. — Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

Narrator

Frank is at the doctor's with stomach pain he's had for a few days. Tina was worried and made him get checked.

フランクは数日続く腹痛で診療所に来ている。ティナが心配して、診てもらうよう言った。

Doctor01

So, Frank, how long have you had this pain?

それで、フランクさん、この痛みはどれくらい続いていますか？

Frank02

I've had it for three days now. And about five hours.

もう3日と5時間ほど続いています。

Doctor03

I'll just write "three days."

「3日」とだけ書いておきますね。

Tina04

And he barely ate dinner last night!

それに、昨夜は夕食をほとんど食べなかったんです！

Frank05

I ate two bowls of soup.

スープを2杯食べたよ。

Tina06

You usually eat three. That's how I knew something was wrong.

いつもは3杯でしょ。だからおかしいって気づいたの。

Doctor07

Has the pain gotten worse since yesterday?

昨日から痛みは悪化していますか？

Tina08

Yes! Much worse!

はい！かなり悪くなっています！

Frank09

No, it feels about the same. Tina, it's my stomach.

いいえ、だいたい同じです。ティナ、僕のお腹だよ。

Narrator

The doctor examines Frank.

医者がフランクを診察する。

Doctor10

It doesn't seem serious. It looks like a common stomach bug. Drink plenty of water and get some rest.

深刻ではなさそうです。よくある胃腸炎のようですね。水分をしっかり摂って、休んでください。

Tina11

How often should I call him tonight to check on him?

今夜は何回電話して、様子を確認すればいいですか？

Doctor12

Don't call him during the night. Let him sleep.

夜中は電話をせず、眠らせてあげてください。

Frank13

What a relief. Could you write that down for Tina — and sign it?

安心しました。それをティナのために書いて、サインもしてもらえますか？

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“he barely ate dinner”

Barely has a negative sense meaning almost not. He barely ate dinner means he ate very little. Tina is worried about Frank's loss of appetite.

“It looks like a common stomach bug.”

Besides an insect, bug can informally mean a minor infectious illness. A stomach bug is a gastrointestinal illness. Compare catch a bug, meaning to pick up an illness.

“check on him”

Check on someone means to see whether they are all right. Unlike simply examining something with check, it focuses on a person's or situation's well-being.

“What a relief.”

"What a relief." Frank is relieved not only that it does not seem to be serious, but also that Tina will not be calling him in the middle of the night, so he can sleep.

“Could you write that down for Tina — and sign it?”

Write ... down means to put something in writing, and sign means to add your signature. That refers to the doctor's instruction just before: don't call him during the night; let him sleep. The punchline is that Frank even asks for the doctor's signature so that worried Tina will follow it.

Browse all 60 A2 episodes