Free course · All 12 modules open

急诊中文 Professional Mandarin for the Emergency Department

A speaking course for the emergency department. Twelve modules, from the first minute at triage to the hardest news. It covers the first minute, triage, pain and chest pain, breathing, stroke, injuries, belly pain, tests, allergy and poisoning, waiting and family, admit or home and critical moments.

An emergency nurse at the triage desk welcoming an older Chinese man and his adult daughter, the department calm behind them

The twelve modules

One clinic day and the conversations around it. Each module has vocabulary with flash cards, scripts, dialogues, role-plays, a Knowledge Check, homework and a printable phrase sheet.

  1. Module 1第一分钟 Greetings and the First Minute Greet a patient in the emergency department, introduce yourself, confirm who they are and get an interpreter in the first minute. 20 lessons
  2. Module 2主诉分诊 Chief Complaint and Triage Questions Find out in Mandarin why a patient came in and how urgent it is: the main problem, when it started, the background and what’s next. 25 lessons
  3. Module 3胸痛 Pain and Chest Pain Ask about chest pain in Mandarin: a pain score said back, what it feels like, where it spreads, the EKG, aspirin and nitroglycerin. 25 lessons
  4. Module 4呼吸困难 Breathing: Asthma, COPD and Oxygen Talk with a breathless patient in Mandarin: questions they can nod to, oxygen and nebulizers explained, slow breathing, COPD and clots. 25 lessons
  5. Module 5中风 Stroke: Face, Arm, Speech and Time Give a stroke check in Mandarin: face, arm and speech commands, the time last known well, the CT, and what the family needs to know. 25 lessons
  6. Module 6外伤 Injuries: Falls, Wounds and Stitches Talk through falls and injuries in Mandarin: how it happened, head and neck questions, numbing and stitches, tetanus and wound care at home. 25 lessons
  7. Module 7腹痛呕吐 Belly Pain and Vomiting Ask about belly pain in Mandarin: where it hurts and whether it moved, vomiting, blood, the private questions and nothing by mouth. 25 lessons
  8. Module 8急诊检查 Tests: IVs, Blood, Scans and Consent Talk patients through tests in Mandarin: the IV, blood and urine samples, CT and MRI, who gives results, and consent through an interpreter. 25 lessons
  9. Module 9过敏中毒 Allergic Reactions and Poisoning Ask and explain in Mandarin for allergic reactions and poisoning: epinephrine, what was taken and when, the poison center, and overdose. 25 lessons
  10. Module 10候诊家属 Waiting, Updates and Family Keep waiting patients and families informed in Mandarin: why others go first, honest updates, privacy, visitors and calm words. 25 lessons
  11. Module 11住院出院 Admission, Discharge and When to Come Back Explain the end of the visit in Mandarin: admission and boarding, leaving against advice, discharge with teach-back, and when to come back. 25 lessons
  12. Module 12危急时刻 Critical Moments: Hard News and Grief Rehearse the Mandarin for a family’s hardest moments: resuscitation, wishes, serious news, a death, and words that support. 25 lessons

Who it’s for

  • Emergency physicians and residents
  • Emergency and triage nurses
  • Physician assistants and nurse practitioners in the ED
  • Medical and nursing students on emergency rotations

Some Mandarin helps, but every line has pinyin, English and audio, so you can start from the first lesson.

How it works

  1. Speak, don’t just readSay every phrase out loud. Silent reading does not build clinical fluency.
  2. Characters firstEvery term appears as 汉字, pinyin and English. Read the characters, check the pinyin, and use English only to confirm.
  3. Rehearse it liveRole-plays and drills are meant to be done out loud, with the English covered.
  4. Record and compareEach module ends with homework. Record yourself and compare week to week.

Earn a certificate

Pass a module’s Knowledge Check and get a certificate of completion you can print, save as a PDF or add to your LinkedIn profile.

A phrase every week

One clinical Mandarin phrase a week, with pinyin and a tip, plus a note when new modules open.

Get the phrase of the week

Practice with a real listener

A 1:1 session is the fastest way to turn these scripts into something you can say under pressure.

Book a 1:1 session

Start with Module 1

Finish it and you can open an emergency visit in Mandarin: greet, introduce yourself and confirm who the patient is.

Start the course