持續時間英文：症狀從什麼時候開始、多久了、是否反覆
英語的時間表達對中文使用者來說特別容易混淆：「兩天前開始」要用 ago、「持續了兩天」要用 for、「從週一開始」要用 since。這篇把症狀時間軸的英文整理清楚，讓你能準確回答醫師「When did it start?」與「How long has it been going on?」這類問題。
本文僅教英文溝通，不提供醫療診斷或治療建議；緊急或突發症狀請尋求當地急救或醫療協助。
核心單字表
| English term | 中文意思 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| onset | 發作、開始 | The onset was very sudden. |
| sudden | 突然 | It came on suddenly. |
| gradual | 慢慢的 | The pain was gradual at first. |
| since | 自從 | I've had it since Monday. |
| for | 持續了 | I've had it for two days. |
| ago | （某時間）之前 | It started three hours ago. |
| recurring | 反覆出現的 | It's a recurring pain. |
| on and off | 時有時無 | It's been on and off for a week. |
| first time | 第一次 | This is the first time it happened. |
必背句型
- It started [TIME] ago.（___ 之前開始。）
- I've had it since [TIME / DAY].（從 ___ 開始就一直有。）
- I've had it for [DURATION].（已經 ___ 那麼久了。）
- It came on suddenly.（突然發作的。）
- It started gradually and got worse.（慢慢開始，後來變嚴重。）
- It's been on and off for [DURATION].（時有時無大約 ___。）
- This is the first time this has happened.（這是第一次發生。）
- It's happened before, about [TIME] ago.（以前發生過，大約 ___ 前。）
- It usually lasts about [DURATION].（通常持續大約 ___。）
- It hasn't gone away.（一直沒好。）
- It comes back every [INTERVAL].（每隔 ___ 就會再發。）
- I woke up with it this morning.（今天早上一醒來就有了。）
since、for、ago 三個常被搞混的字
- since + 時間點：since Monday, since 7 a.m., since last week
- for + 期間長度：for two days, for an hour, for a week
- ago + 期間（搭配過去式）：two days ago, an hour ago, a week ago
- 例：The pain started two days ago. = I've had the pain for two days. = I've had the pain since Monday (if today is Wednesday).
錯誤說法 vs 自然說法
| 不太自然 | 自然好用 |
|---|---|
| I have pain from Monday. | I've had pain since Monday. |
| It happens before two days. | It started two days ago. |
| Long time pain, three weeks. | I've had this pain for three weeks. |
| Sometimes have, sometimes no. | It's on and off. / It comes and goes. |
| First time never happen. | This is the first time it's happened. |
情境對話
Doctor: When did the symptoms start?（症狀從什麼時候開始？） Patient: They started about three days ago, on Tuesday morning.（大約三天前，星期二早上開始。） Doctor: Have you had this before?（以前發生過嗎？） Patient: Yes, something similar happened about six months ago, but it went away after a week.（有，大約半年前有過類似的，但一週後就好了。） Doctor: Is it constant or does it come and go?（是一直都有，還是時有時無？） Patient: It comes and goes. It's worse in the morning and better at night.（時有時無，早上比較嚴重，晚上比較好。）
可替換句型模板
- I've had [SYMPTOM] for [DURATION].
- I've had a sore throat for four days.
- It started [TIME] ago, [SUDDENLY / GRADUALLY].
- It started two hours ago, suddenly.
- It [LASTS / COMES BACK] every [INTERVAL].
- It comes back every few weeks.
- The last time this happened was [TIME] ago.
- The last time this happened was about a year ago.
小練習
- 把「我從昨天晚上開始就一直頭痛」翻成英文。 答： I've had a headache since last night.
- 把「胃痛大概持續了一個禮拜，時有時無」翻成英文。 答： I've had stomach pain for about a week, on and off.
- 把「這是第一次發生這種狀況」翻成英文。 答： This is the first time this has happened.
看診前可複製的英文整理表
Symptom timeline
- Started: ___ (date / time)
- Onset: sudden / gradual
- Duration so far: ___
- Constant / on and off: ___
- Has happened before: yes / no
- If yes, last time: ___ ago
- Has it changed since it started: better / worse / same
延伸閱讀
- 如何用英文描述症狀？醫師最需要聽到的 7 個重點
- 症狀變化英文：變嚴重、改善、復發、沒有緩解
- 緩解與誘發因素英文：什麼會讓症狀變好或變壞
再次提醒：本文聚焦英文溝通，不提供醫療判斷。突發、嚴重或快速惡化的症狀請立即就醫。