Pharmacy and buying medicine in Chinese
Find a pharmacy, ask for medicine for fever, cold, stomachache, allergy, pain, motion sickness, and ask dosage, side effects, and whether a prescription is needed. A 24-hour pharmacy in Hangzhou. You have a sore throat and a cough, and every box on the shelf is in Chinese.
Key phrases
The 6 phrases this lesson is built around, with the words that make them up. Tap ▶ to listen, or the turtle to hear it slowly.
-
附近有药店吗？
Fùjìn yǒu yàodiàn ma?
Is there a pharmacy nearby?
- 附近Fùjìn
- 有yǒu
- 药店yàodiàn
- 吗ma
-
有感冒药吗？
Yǒu gǎnmào yào ma?
Do you have cold medicine?
- 有Yǒu
- 感冒gǎnmào
- 药yào
- 吗ma
-
我喉咙痛。
Wǒ hóulóng tòng.
I have a sore throat.
- 我Wǒ
- 喉咙hóulóng
- 痛tòng
-
这个需要处方吗？
Zhège xūyào chǔfāng ma?
Does this require a prescription?
- 这个Zhège
- 需要xūyào
- 处方chǔfāng
- 吗ma
-
这个药怎么吃？
Zhège yào zěnme chī?
How should I take this medicine?
- 这个Zhège
- 药yào
- 怎么zěnme
- 吃chī
-
一天吃几次？
Yì tiān chī jǐ cì?
How many times a day should I take it?
- 一Yì
- 天tiān
- 吃chī
- 几jǐ
- 次cì
More phrases for this situation
Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.
-
请带我去药店。
Qǐng dài wǒ qù yàodiàn.
Please take me to a pharmacy.
-
我想买药。
Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yào.
I would like to buy medicine.
-
有退烧药吗？
Yǒu tuìshāo yào ma?
Do you have fever medicine?
-
有止痛药吗？
Yǒu zhǐtòng yào ma?
Do you have painkillers?
-
有肚子痛的药吗？
Yǒu dùzi tòng de yào ma?
Do you have medicine for stomachache?
-
有过敏药吗？
Yǒu guòmǐn yào ma?
Do you have allergy medicine?
-
有晕车药吗？
Yǒu yùnchē yào ma?
Do you have motion sickness medicine?
-
我咳嗽。
Wǒ késou.
I have a cough.
-
我拉肚子。
Wǒ lā dùzi.
I have diarrhea.
-
一次吃几片？
Yí cì chī jǐ piàn?
How many tablets should I take each time?
-
饭前吃还是饭后吃？
Fàn qián chī háishi fàn hòu chī?
Should I take it before or after meals?
-
这个药有副作用吗？
Zhège yào yǒu fùzuòyòng ma?
Does this medicine have side effects?
-
这个药会犯困吗？
Zhège yào huì fànkùn ma?
Will this medicine make me sleepy?
-
我对这个药过敏。
Wǒ duì zhège yào guòmǐn.
I am allergic to this medicine.
-
这个适合儿童吃吗？
Zhège shìhé értóng chī ma?
Is this suitable for children?
-
请帮我写下用法用量。
Qǐng bāng wǒ xiě xià yòngfǎ yòngliàng.
Please write down the instructions and dosage for me.
-
谢谢您的帮助。
Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.
Thank you for your help.
What you’ll hear, and how to answer
Staff won’t follow your script. These are things they are likely to say here, with a reply that works.
-
Staff
您好，买什么药？Nín hǎo, mǎi shénme yào?
Hello, what medicine are you looking for?
You
我想买药。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yào.
I would like to buy medicine.
-
Staff
这个是中成药，不用处方。Zhège shì zhōngchéngyào, bú yòng chǔfāng.
This is a Chinese patent medicine. No prescription needed.
You
这个药怎么吃？Zhège yào zěnme chī?
How should I take this medicine?
Play the scene
A 24-hour pharmacy in Hangzhou. You have a sore throat and a cough, and every box on the shelf is in Chinese.
-
Staff
您好，买什么药？
Nín hǎo, mǎi shénme yào?
Hello, what medicine are you looking for?
-
You
有感冒药吗？
Yǒu gǎnmào yào ma?
Do you have cold medicine?
What do you say?
-
Staff
有没有发烧？
Yǒu méiyǒu fāshāo?
Do you have a fever?
-
You
我喉咙痛。
Wǒ hóulóng tòng.
I have a sore throat.
What do you say?
-
Staff
这个是中成药，不用处方。
Zhège shì zhōngchéngyào, bú yòng chǔfāng.
This is a Chinese patent medicine. No prescription needed.
-
You
这个药怎么吃？
Zhège yào zěnme chī?
How should I take this medicine?
What do you say?
-
Staff
一天三次，一次两片，饭后吃。
Yì tiān sān cì, yí cì liǎng piàn, fàn hòu chī.
Three times a day, two tablets each time, after meals.
-
You
这个药会犯困吗？
Zhège yào huì fànkùn ma?
Will this medicine make me sleepy?
What do you say?
Scene complete. 很好！ (Hěn hǎo — very good!)
Culture tip
Confirm how to take it
Always ask 这个药怎么吃？ and clarify how many times per day and how many tablets each time.
How do you ask “How should I take this medicine?”
Show the answer
这个药怎么吃？ — How should I take this medicine?
Go deeper
Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.
Key Pharmacy Terms
药店 Pharmacy or drugstore. Use this word when looking for medicine while traveling.
药 Medicine. You can say 我想买药 when you need medicine but do not know the exact name.
处方 Prescription. Some medicines require a doctor’s prescription before a pharmacy can sell them.
用法用量 Instructions and dosage. This tells you how to take the medicine, how often, and how much each time.
副作用 Side effects. Ask about side effects before taking unfamiliar medicine.
过敏 Allergy or allergic reaction. Always tell the pharmacist if you are allergic to a medicine.
Pharmacy Help Flow
Step 1: Find a pharmacy
Ask 附近有药店吗？ If you feel weak or sick, ask 请带我去药店.
Step 2: Describe symptoms
Use simple phrases such as 我咳嗽, 我喉咙痛, 我拉肚子, or show the symptom on your phone.
Step 3: Ask for medicine type
Ask for fever medicine, cold medicine, painkillers, allergy medicine, motion sickness medicine, or stomachache medicine.
Step 4: Confirm prescription and safety
Ask whether a prescription is required, whether there are side effects, and whether the medicine may cause sleepiness.
Step 5: Confirm dosage
Ask how to take the medicine, how many times per day, how many tablets each time, and before or after meals.
Useful Pharmacy Patterns
有……药吗？ Use this to ask whether the pharmacy has a specific type of medicine.
我…… Use this to describe symptoms simply.
这个药……吗？ Use this to ask questions about a medicine, such as side effects, sleepiness, or prescription requirements.
……吃几次 / 几片？ Use this to ask dosage frequency and amount.
Common Medicine Types
Fever and cold medicine
退烧药 is for fever. 感冒药 is for cold symptoms, such as cough, runny nose, or sore throat.
Painkiller and allergy medicine
止痛药 is for pain. 过敏药 is for allergies, but some allergy medicines may cause sleepiness.
Stomach and motion sickness medicine
For stomach problems, describe whether it is pain, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. 晕车药 is for motion sickness.
Dosage and Safety Tips
Confirm how to take it
Always ask 这个药怎么吃？ and clarify how many times per day and how many tablets each time.
Before or after meals
Some medicine should be taken after meals to reduce stomach irritation; others may be before meals. Ask clearly.
Side effects and sleepiness
Some medicines, especially allergy or motion sickness medicine, may cause sleepiness. Ask before driving or traveling.
Children and allergies
For children, always ask whether the medicine is suitable and what the child dosage is. Tell the pharmacist about allergies.
Interactive Scenarios
Buying cold medicine
- Traveler我想买药。
Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yào.
I would like to buy medicine.
- Traveler有感冒药吗？
Yǒu gǎnmào yào ma?
Do you have cold medicine?
- Traveler我咳嗽，喉咙痛。
Wǒ késou, hóulóng tòng.
I have a cough and a sore throat.
Asking dosage
- Traveler这个药怎么吃？
Zhège yào zěnme chī?
How should I take this medicine?
- Traveler一天吃几次？
Yì tiān chī jǐ cì?
How many times a day should I take it?
- Traveler一次吃几片？
Yí cì chī jǐ piàn?
How many tablets should I take each time?
Checking safety
- Traveler这个需要处方吗？
Zhège xūyào chǔfāng ma?
Does this require a prescription?
- Traveler这个药有副作用吗？
Zhège yào yǒu fùzuòyòng ma?
Does this medicine have side effects?
- Traveler这个药会犯困吗？
Zhège yào huì fànkùn ma?
Will this medicine make me sleepy?
Mini Quiz
How do you ask “Is there a pharmacy nearby?”
- 附近有药店吗？ ✓ Answer
- 附近有医院吗？
- 附近有酒店吗？
Which phrase asks for cold medicine?
- 有感冒药吗？ ✓ Answer
- 有退烧药吗？
- 有晕车药吗？
How do you ask “How should I take this medicine?”
- 这个药怎么吃？ ✓ Answer
- 这个药多少钱？
- 这个药在哪里？
Which phrase asks whether medicine will make you sleepy?
- 这个药会犯困吗？ ✓ Answer
- 这个药需要处方吗？
- 这个药适合儿童吃吗？