Guide • Vet visit
Visiting a Japanese vet with your pet: phrases and what to expect
Taking a pet to the vet is stressful in any country. Doing it in a new language, when you’re not sure how to explain symptoms or understand test results, can be overwhelming.
This guide focuses on gentle, practical Japanese that helps you describe what’s wrong, ask questions, and understand next steps — without needing veterinary-level vocabulary.
The situation
You’ve made an appointment (or walked in) at a local dōbutsu byōin (animal hospital). Staff hand you a form in Japanese and ask a few questions about your pet. Later, the vet explains what they think is going on and suggests tests or medication.
Your main job is to communicate clearly: how long the problem has been happening, what you’ve noticed, and what you’re worried about. The phrases below give you a framework you can reuse for many different vet visits.
Key Japanese phrases
These aren’t exhaustive medical terms. They’re high-impact phrases that vets and staff will instantly understand, plus wording that keeps the tone soft and respectful.
“My Japanese isn’t very good, but I’ll do my best.”
nihongo wa mada amari jōzu ja nai desu kedo, ganbarimasu. 日本語はまだあまり上手じゃないですけど、頑張ります。
This combines humility with warmth. It signals that you might need extra time, but you’re engaged and trying, which usually makes staff more patient and caring in return.
“My dog/cat has been sick since yesterday.”
kino kara inu / neko no chōshi ga warui desu. 昨日から犬／猫の調子が悪いです。
Chōshi ga warui means “their condition is bad”. Swap inu (dog) for neko (cat) as needed. You can replace kino (“yesterday”) with san nichi mae (“three days ago”), etc.
“They are not eating / they have diarrhea / they are vomiting.”
esa o tabete inai / geri ga aru / hakatte iru nado desu. 餌を食べていない／下痢がある／吐いているなどです。
You don’t have to say all of these — pick the one that fits. Esa o tabete inai (not eating), geri (diarrhea), haku (to vomit). If it’s easier, you can list them in separate short sentences while pointing to your pet or notes.
“Could you explain the test/results one more time?”
kensa / kekka ni tsuite, mō ichido setsumei shite itadakemasu ka? 検査／結果について、もう一度説明していただけますか？
This is polite but very appropriate at a vet. Kensa is test, kekka is results. You’re literally asking “Could I have the explanation one more time?”, which is common even among native speakers.
“How should I give this medicine?”
kono kusuri wa dōyatte age tara ii desu ka? この薬はどうやってあげたらいいですか？
Use this when you’re handed pills or liquid medicine. The vet may respond by demonstrating with their hands or giving you a printed instruction sheet. You can follow up with “Nan kai desu ka?” to ask how many times per day.
“If something changes, what should I do?”
nani ka kawattara, dō sureba ii desu ka? 何か変わったら、どうすればいいですか？
A good final check before you leave. It opens the door for the vet to tell you what warning signs to watch for and whether to call, come back, or go to an emergency clinic.
See it in TabiTalk, a Japanese learning app for everyday life in Japan.
TabiTalk can help you rehearse this whole visit before you go: describing symptoms, listening to questions at natural speed, and practising follow-ups like “What does this word mean in Japanese?”
Practise this (and more) in the app
If this is exactly what you need, TabiTalk gives you interactive drills and camera help for this and more.
If you’re living in Japan with a pet and want a Japanese learning app built around real-life resident problems — from vet visits to ward offices and daily errands — the full TabiTalk guide is a good next read.
You can:
- Practise vet visit dialogues so you’re ready to speak even when you’re worried.
- Tap any phrase to hear the audio, see the romaji and kana, and read a plain-English explanation.
- Use the camera to check written instructions, labels, and clinic signs when you get home.
Install TabiTalk on iOS or Android so you have a calm Japanese companion for your next vet visit in Japan.