At the Pharmacy
intermediate在药店
Learn to buy medicine, describe symptoms, and understand dosage instructions at a Chinese pharmacy.
38 words12 phrases2 dialogues~30 min study time
Vocabulary
38 words — click any row for an example sentence
Common Medicines
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 感冒药 | gǎnmào yào | cold medicine | noun |
| 止痛药 | zhǐtòng yào | painkiller | noun |
| 退烧药 | tuìshāo yào | fever reducer; antipyretic | noun |
| 消炎药 | xiāoyán yào | anti-inflammatory medicine | noun |
| 创可贴 | chuāngkětiē | adhesive bandage; Band-Aid | noun |
| 止咳糖浆 | zhǐké tángjiāng | cough syrup | noun |
| 眼药水 | yǎnyào shuǐ | eye drops | noun |
| 板蓝根 | bǎnlángēn | isatis root (herbal cold remedy) | noun |
| 维生素 | wéishēngsù | vitamin | noun |
| 药膏 | yàogāo | ointment; medicinal cream | noun |
Symptoms
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 头疼 | tóuténg | headache | noun |
| 发烧 | fāshāo | to have a fever | verb |
| 拉肚子 | lā dùzi | to have diarrhea | verb |
| 过敏 | guòmǐn | allergy; to be allergic | noun |
| 咳嗽 | késou | to cough; a cough | verb |
| 流鼻涕 | liú bítì | to have a runny nose | verb |
| 嗓子疼 | sǎngzi téng | sore throat | phrase |
| 上火 | shànghuǒ | internal heat (TCM concept); to have excessive heat | verb |
| 失眠 | shīmián | insomnia; to suffer from insomnia | noun |
Instructions
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一天三次 | yì tiān sān cì | three times a day | phrase |
| 饭后吃 | fàn hòu chī | take after meals | phrase |
| 空腹 | kōngfù | on an empty stomach | noun |
| 注意事项 | zhùyì shìxiàng | precautions; things to note | noun |
| 剂量 | jìliàng | dosage | noun |
| 片 | piàn | tablet (measure word) | measure word |
| 粒 | lì | capsule; pill (measure word) | measure word |
| 保质期 | bǎozhìqī | expiration date; shelf life | noun |
| 说明书 | shuōmíngshū | instructions; manual | noun |
Asking
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 有没有 | yǒu méiyǒu | do you have; is there | phrase |
| 推荐 | tuījiàn | to recommend | verb |
| 处方 | chǔfāng | prescription | noun |
| 副作用 | fùzuòyòng | side effect | noun |
| 处方药 | chǔfāng yào | prescription medicine | noun |
| 非处方药 | fēi chǔfāng yào | over-the-counter medicine (OTC) | noun |
| 药店 | yàodiàn | pharmacy; drugstore | noun |
| 中药 | zhōngyào | traditional Chinese medicine (herbal) | noun |
| 西药 | xīyào | Western medicine | noun |
| 药剂师 | yàojìshī | pharmacist | noun |
Key Phrases
Essential expressions
请问有治感冒的药吗？
Qǐngwèn yǒu zhì gǎnmào de yào ma?
Excuse me, do you have medicine for colds?
Asking a pharmacist for cold medicine when you first walk into the pharmacy.
这个药怎么吃？
Zhège yào zěnme chī?
How should I take this medicine?
Asking the pharmacist for dosage instructions after purchasing medicine.
一天吃几次？
Yì tiān chī jǐ cì?
How many times a day should I take it?
Asking about frequency of dosage.
需要处方吗？
Xūyào chǔfāng ma?
Do I need a prescription?
Checking whether a medicine requires a prescription before purchasing.
有没有副作用？
Yǒu méiyǒu fùzuòyòng?
Are there any side effects?
Asking about possible side effects before buying medicine.
吃这个药能开车吗？
Chī zhège yào néng kāi chē ma?
Can I drive after taking this medicine?
Asking whether a medicine causes drowsiness or affects driving ability.
有没有中药的选择？
Yǒu méiyǒu zhōngyào de xuǎnzé?
Is there a traditional Chinese medicine option?
Asking whether the pharmacy carries herbal alternatives.
小孩子可以吃吗？
Xiǎo háizi kěyǐ chī ma?
Can children take this?
Checking whether a medicine is safe for children.
有没有便宜一点的？
Yǒu méiyǒu piányi yìdiǎn de?
Do you have anything cheaper?
Asking for a more affordable alternative when the medicine is too expensive.
我对这个药过敏。
Wǒ duì zhège yào guòmǐn.
I am allergic to this medicine.
Informing the pharmacist about a drug allergy.
这个药饭前吃还是饭后吃？
Zhège yào fàn qián chī háishi fàn hòu chī?
Should I take this before or after meals?
Asking about the timing of medicine relative to meals.
吃了这个药多久能见效？
Chī le zhège yào duōjiǔ néng jiànxiào?
How long after taking this medicine will it take effect?
Asking the pharmacist about how quickly the medicine works.
Dialogues
Practice conversations
Buying Cold Medicine
A customer walks into a Chinese pharmacy feeling unwell and asks the pharmacist for help choosing cold medicine.
Speaker A
你好，我感冒了，想买点感冒药。
Speaker B
好的，你有什么症状？流鼻涕还是咳嗽？
Speaker A
主要是流鼻涕和嗓子疼，还有点发烧。
Speaker B
那我推荐你买这种，感冒灵颗粒，效果不错。你想要中药的还是西药的？
Speaker A
西药的吧，见效快一点。这个药怎么吃？
Speaker B
一天三次，每次一包，饭后用温水冲服。有没有对什么药过敏？
Speaker A
没有。这个药多少钱？
Speaker B
十八块一盒。你再买一盒板蓝根吧，可以预防感冒加重。
Cultural note: In Chinese pharmacies, pharmacists often actively recommend medicines and ask about symptoms, much like a brief consultation. It is common for them to suggest both Chinese and Western medicine options. Many customers rely on the pharmacist's advice rather than seeing a doctor for minor illnesses.
Asking About Medicine for a Child
A parent visits a pharmacy to buy fever-reducing medicine for their child and asks about dosage and precautions.
Speaker A
你好，我的孩子发烧了，有儿童退烧药吗？
Speaker B
有的。孩子多大了？体温多少度？
Speaker A
五岁，体温三十八度五。
Speaker B
三十八度五以上可以吃退烧药了。这个是儿童版的，草莓味的，孩子比较容易接受。
Speaker A
好的。剂量是多少？有什么注意事项吗？
Speaker B
五岁的孩子每次五毫升，六到八小时一次。注意不要和其他含退烧成分的药一起吃。
Speaker A
明白了。如果吃了药还不退烧怎么办？
Speaker B
如果超过三十九度或者两天还不退烧，建议你带孩子去医院看看。
Cultural note: Chinese pharmacists often provide practical medical advice, especially for common childhood illnesses. Parents frequently go to pharmacies first before considering a hospital visit. The pharmacist may ask detailed questions about age, weight, and symptoms to recommend the correct children's dosage.
Cultural Notes
Context that textbooks miss
Test Yourself
8 questions covering vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue comprehension.
Take the At the Pharmacy Quiz (8 questions)→HSK Level Overlap
13 of 38 words appear in HSK levels
Further Reading
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