Translation guide
A doctor who provides general medical care for individuals and families, often over a long period. In Japan, this concept is expressed through terms like かかりつけ医, 家庭医, or simply 主治医, depending on context.
A doctor you regularly visit for check-ups and non-emergency care, who knows your medical history.
The most common term for a family doctor or regular physician. Literally 'the doctor one is registered with'. Used in everyday conversation.
かかりつけ医に相談してください。
Please consult your family doctor.
うちのかかりつけ医はとても親切です。
Our family doctor is very kind.
Literally 'family doctor', often used in medical contexts or when referring to the specialty of family medicine. Slightly more formal than かかりつけ医.
家庭医は地域医療の中心です。
Family doctors are central to community medicine.
Refers to the doctor in charge of a patient's care, especially for a specific condition or during hospitalization. Can be used for a family doctor if they are managing your overall health.
May imply a more formal doctor-patient relationship, often used in medical settings.
主治医に紹介状を書いてもらいました。
I got a referral letter from my family doctor.
A doctor who provides care for all members of a family, from children to elderly.
A natural phrase meaning 'a doctor who sees the whole family'. Used when emphasizing that the doctor treats all family members.
家族みんなを診てくれる医者が近所にいます。
There's a doctor in the neighborhood who sees our whole family.
Loanword from English, sometimes used in Japan to refer to a family doctor, but less common than かかりつけ医. May sound slightly trendy.
ホームドクターを探しています。
I'm looking for a family doctor.
かかりつけ医 is your regular doctor for everyday health issues and check-ups. 主治医 is the doctor in charge of your treatment for a specific illness or condition, often in a hospital setting. You can have a かかりつけ医 who is also your 主治医 for chronic conditions.
風邪をひいたら、まずかかりつけ医に行きます。
When I catch a cold, I first go to my family doctor.
手術の後、主治医から経過を聞きました。
After the surgery, I heard about my progress from the attending doctor.
The term かかりつけ can be used with other professionals, like かかりつけ薬局 (regular pharmacy) or かかりつけ歯科医 (regular dentist). It implies a trusted, ongoing relationship.