How to Say “Who is the doctor on call?” in Chinese
Emergencies and health · HSK 4
"Who is the doctor on call?" in Chinese is 今天哪位医生值班？ (Jīn tiān nǎ wèi yī shēng zhí bān?). 值班 (zhí bān) is the standard word for 'being on duty' or 'on call'; used for doctors, nurses, security guards, anyone working a shift. The measure word 位 (wèi) in 哪位医生 is the polite form; using 个 (gè) would sound blunt when talking about a doctor.
Primary translation
今天哪位医生值班？
Jīn tiān nǎ wèi yī shēng zhí bān?
Traditional: 今天哪位醫生值班？
Variants by register
Casual
今天谁值班？
Jīn tiān shéi zhí bān?
When to use it
值班 (zhí bān) is the standard word for 'being on duty' or 'on call'; used for doctors, nurses, security guards, anyone working a shift. The measure word 位 (wèi) in 哪位医生 is the polite form; using 个 (gè) would sound blunt when talking about a doctor. In China, hospitals post a 值班表 (zhí bān biǎo, duty roster) at the nurses' station (护士站 hù shì zhàn); that's where to ask. Note that most Chinese hospitals don't use family doctors; you just go to the ER (急诊) or a specialty department (科室 kē shì), and whoever is 值班 will see you. There's no appointment needed for emergencies.
Example sentences
请问今天急诊科哪位医生值班？
Qǐng wèn jīn tiān jí zhěn kē nǎ wèi yī shēng zhí bān?
Excuse me, which doctor is on call in the ER today?
李医生值夜班，您可以在二楼找他。
Lǐ yī shēng zhí yè bān, nín kě yǐ zài èr lóu zhǎo tā.
Dr. Li is on the night shift; you can find him on the second floor.
值班表贴在护士站墙上。
Zhí bān biǎo tiē zài hù shì zhàn qiáng shàng.
The duty roster is posted on the wall at the nurses' station.