noi6 fo1內科内科
Definition
Internal medicine; a branch of clinical medicine focusing on non-surgical treatment of internal diseases.
How it's used
Distinguishing between 內科 and 外科 is the primary way patients categorize hospital departments in Hong Kong. While 內科 focuses on systemic diseases managed through medication and non-invasive procedures, it is often perceived as the department for chronic conditions or mysterious illnesses that require diagnostic detective work. In a clinical setting, it is common to hear people refer to the department simply as 內科部.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 內科 with general practice or family medicine. While a general practitioner might refer a patient to 內科 for specialized care, the two are distinct, as 內科 involves deeper sub-specialization like cardiology or endocrinology.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
