Welcome to our video lesson on taking medicine in Mandarin Chinese! If you're a beginner who is interested in learning Chinese, or you simply want to expand your language skills to include the vocabulary and grammar related to medicine, then you're in the right place. In this lesson, we'll cover the basics of taking medicine in Chinese, including common verbs, dosage and frequency grammar, and important vocabulary related to medication. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a better understanding of how to communicate effectively about medicine in Mandarin Chinese. So, come along with us and let's get started!
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When it comes to medicine packaging, it's essential to know the appropriate measure words for different types of containers. Here are some commonly used measure words:
袋 (dài) is used for medicine that comes in small bags or packets, such as powder or granules. For example, 一袋药 (yī dài yào) means "one packet of medicine."
管 (guǎn) is used for medicine that comes in a tube, such as ointments or creams. 一管药膏 (yī guǎn yào gāo) means "one tube of medicine ointment."
瓶 (píng) is used for bottled or jarred substances, including liquid medicine, capsules, or pills. For example, 一瓶药水 (yī píng yào shuǐ) means "one bottle of medicine liquid."
板 (bǎn) is used for drugs which are usually packed into a sheet or a blister pack.. For example, 一板药片 (yī bǎn yào piàn) means "one sheet of medicine tablets."
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When taking medicine, it's crucial to use the correct measure words for different types of medication. Here are some commonly used measure words:
For small tablets or capsules of medicine, we use the measure word "粒" (lì).
For large pills in a spherical shape, we use the measure word "丸" (wán).
For larger tablets or slices of medicine, we use the measure word "片" (piàn).
For slender objects like tubes, or vials,, we use the measure word "支" (zhī).
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In order to make sure we take the right amount, we need to use the correct measurement units. Let's take a look at some commonly used measurements for medicine.
First, we have "克" (kè), which is used to measure the weight of medicine. For example, if you need to take 5 grams of medicine, you would write "5克".
Next, we have "毫克" (háo kè), which is a smaller unit of measurement for weight. If you only need a small amount of medicine, like 0.25 milligram, you would write "0.25毫克", or "líng diǎn èr wǔ háo kè" in Chinese.
When it comes to measuring liquid medicine, we use "升" (shēng) and "毫升" (háo shēng). For example, if your doctor prescribes 200 milliliters of cough syrup, you would write "200毫升" or "liǎng bǎi háo shēng".
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"请问这药怎么吃？" (Qǐng wèn zhè yào zěn me chī?) and "请问这药怎么用？" (Qǐng wèn zhè yào zěn me yòng?) are questions that are used to ask about how to use a medication, but they have slightly different connotations.
"请问这药怎么吃？" specifically asks about how to take the medicine, such as whether it should be swallowed whole or chewed, taken with food or on an empty stomach, or how often it should be taken per day. This question is commonly used when asking about pills or tablets that are taken orally.
On the other hand, "请问这药怎么用？" is a more general question that can be used to ask about any method of using a medication, such as whether it should be applied topically, injected, or inhaled. It may also be used to ask about how to use a medication that is not taken orally, such as a cream, ointment, or inhaler.
In summary, "请问这药怎么吃？" is a more specific question that is used when asking about how to take medication orally, while "请问这药怎么用？" is a more general question that can be used to ask about any method of using a medication.
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In the first example, "一天2次" (yī tiān liǎng cì) means "two times a day." Here, "一天" (yī tiān) means "one day," and "2次" (liǎng cì) means "two times." The structure "一天 + number + 次" is a common way to describe the frequency of taking medication in Chinese.
Similarly, "一次2片" (yī cì liǎng piàn) means "two tablets/capsules each time." "一次" (yī cì) means "each time," and "2片" (liǎng piàn) means "two tablets/capsules." The structure "一次 + number + 片/粒/丸" is commonly used to describe the dosage of medication in Chinese.
In the second example, "一次1-4片" (yī cì yī dào sì piàn) means "one to four tablets/capsules each time." "一次" (yī cì) again means "each time," and "1-4片" (yī dào sì piàn) means "one to four tablets/capsules." The use of "到" (dào) here means "up to" or "range," so "一次1-4片" indicates that the dosage can vary between one and four tablets/capsules.
Finally, "一日3次" (yī rì sān cì) means "three times a day," using "一日" (yī rì) to mean "one day." This structure is similar to "一天2次" in the first example,
In general, "日" and "天" can both mean "day" in Chinese, and are often used interchangeably in everyday language. However, there are some subtle differences in usage.
"日" is generally used more in formal or written contexts, while "天" is more commonly used in spoken language. For example, if you were writing a formal document or a news article, you might be more likely to use "日" to refer to "day". However, in everyday conversation, it would be more common to use "天"
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(Subj.) + time duration + Verb + number +cì (+ Obj.): This structure is used to indicate how often an action is performed. The time duration can be any unit of time, such as "一天" (yī tiān) meaning "one day" or "每两个小时" (měi liǎng gè xiǎo shí) meaning "every two hours." The verb is usually an action verb, such as "吃" (chī) meaning "to take (medicine)" or "涂" (tú) meaning "to apply (ointment/cream)." The number is used to indicate the frequency of the action, and "次" (cì) is added at the end to mean "times." An object can also be added at the end, such as "药" (yào) meaning "medicine" or "药膏" (yào gāo) meaning "ointment/cream." Example: "一天吃两次药" (yī tiān chī liǎng cì yào) means "take medicine twice a day."
"每" (měi): This word means "every" and is often used in combination with a time duration to indicate how often an action is performed. Example: "每两个小时滴一滴药水" (měi liǎng gè xiǎo shí dī yī dī yào shuǐ) means "put one drop of medicine every two hours."
"涂" (tú): This verb means "to apply (ointment/cream)" and is often used to describe how to use topical medicine. Example: "你一天涂一次药膏" (nǐ yī tiān tú yī cì yàogāo) means "apply ointment/cream once a day."
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一天三次 (yī tiān sān cì) means "three times a day" or "three times per day". Here, "一天" (yī tiān) means "one day" and "三次" (sān cì) means "three times".
两天一次 (liǎng tiān yī cì) means "once every two days". Here, "两天" (liǎng tiān) means "two days" and "一次" (yī cì) means "once".
In both cases, "次" (cì) is used to indicate the frequency or number of times that an action is to be done.
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The pattern "yī + cì + {number + measure word + (noun)}/ {unit}" is used to indicate the amount or dosage of something to be taken at a particular time or frequency.
For example:
"一次三片" (yī cì sān piàn) means "three tablets per time".
"一次五滴" (yī cì wǔ dī) means "five drops each time".
"一次5毫升" (yī cì wǔ háo shēng) means "five milliliters per time".
This pattern is used in medical contexts when discussing medication dosage, but can also be used in other contexts when discussing the amount or frequency of something to be taken or done.
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前 or 后 is used to indicate the time relationship between two actions, and the verb that follows specifies the action being taken.前 (qián) means "before" and 后 (hòu) means "after". Here are some examples:
饭后服用 (fàn hòu fú yòng) - take after meals
睡前涂抹 (shuì qián tú mò) - apply before sleep
餐前使用 (cān qián shǐ yòng) - use before meals
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The first verb is "吃药" (chī yào), which literally means "eat medicine" and is the most commonly used verb for taking pills or tablets.
The second verb is "喝药" (hē yào), which means "to drink medicine" in Chinese. This verb is usually used for liquid medicine that is taken orally.
The third verb is "抹药" (mǒ yào), which can be translated as "apply medicine/ointment". This verb is used when referring to medicine that is applied directly to the skin.
Finally, "滴眼药" (dī yǎn yào) is a verb that specifically refers to liquid medicine that is applied directly into the eyes.
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Thank you for watching this video lesson on taking medicine in Chinese! We hope that you have found this lesson informative and helpful in your Chinese language learning journey. Remember to practice these new vocabulary and grammar concepts in your daily life to improve your fluency. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below. Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more Chinese language lessons and content. Happy learning!
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