During an examination, the doctor tells you how to sit, breathe, or move. Some instructions are commands. Others are questions about pain.
Follow instructions during an examination
These commands cover your clothes, your position, your breathing, and whether a movement hurts:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Déshabillez-vous. | Get undressed. |
| Asseyez-vous, s'il vous plaît. | Sit down, please. |
| Allongez-vous, s'il vous plaît. | Lie down, please. |
| Levez le bras. | Raise your arm. |
| Tournez la tête. | Turn your head. |
| Respirez profondément. | Take a deep breath. |
| Inspirez. | Breathe in. |
| Expirez. | Breathe out. |
| Ouvrez la bouche. | Open your mouth. |
| Dites-moi si ça vous fait mal. | Tell me if that hurts. |
| Est-ce que ça fait mal ici ? | Does it hurt here? |
Inspirez is one breath in, and expirez is one breath out. Respirez profondément asks for deep breaths, not for a single breath on command.
Dites-moi si ça vous fait mal asks you to speak up when something hurts. Est-ce que ça fait mal ici ? asks about the place the doctor is touching.
From learning to practice
On the examination table, a short command tells you what to do with your body. Est-ce que ça fait mal ici ? is a question, and it needs an answer.