Simplified Chinese - Lesson 136 of 156: Pharmacy

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

这个不用处方能买吗？

Zhège bú yòng chǔfāng néng mǎi ma?

Is this available without a prescription?

Meaning: Is this available without a prescription?

When to use: Ask this at the pharmacy when you want to know whether you can buy a medicine without a doctor's prescription.

这个药不用处方可以买吗？

Zhège bú yòng chǔfāng néng mǎi ma?

Can I buy this medicine without a prescription?

那种眼药水这个不用处方可以买吗？

Nà zhǒng yǎnyàoshuǐ zhège bú yòng chǔfāng néng mǎi ma?

That kind of eye drops — can it be bought without a prescription?

有便宜一点的替代药吗？

Yǒu piányi yìdiǎn de tìdài yào ma?

Is there a generic version?

Meaning: Is there a generic version?

When to use: Ask this when you want a cheaper or non-brand option for a medicine.

这个止痛药太贵了，有便宜一点的替代药吗？

Zhège zhǐtòng yào tài guì le, yǒu piányi yìdiǎn de tìdài yào ma?

This painkiller is too expensive; is there a slightly cheaper alternative?

医生推荐的这个药，有便宜一点的替代药吗？

Yīshēng tuījiàn de zhège yào, yǒu piányi yìdiǎn de tìdài yào ma?

For the doctor-recommended medicine, is there a cheaper substitute?

我每天都吃___。

Wǒ měitiān dōu chī ___.

I take ___ every day.

Meaning: I take ___ every day.

When to use: Tell the pharmacist about medicines or supplements you use regularly.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use 用 instead of 吃 for oral medicines; use 吃 for pills and oral medicine.

我每天都吃高血压药。

Wǒ měitiān dōu chī gāo xiěyā yào.

I take blood pressure medicine every day.

我每天都吃维生素片，医生让我每天吃一次。

Wǒ měitiān dōu chī wéishēngsù piàn, yīshēng ràng wǒ měitiān chī yí cì.

I take vitamins every day; the doctor told me to take one daily.

这个对___安全吗？

Zhège duì ___ ānquán ma?

Is this safe for ___?

Meaning: Is this safe for ___?

When to use: Ask if a medicine is safe for a specific person or group, like 孕妇 (pregnant women), 孩子 (children) or 老人 (elderly).

Tip: Don't drop 对 — say 对 + person/group (e.g. 对孕妇) to be clear.

这个对孕妇安全吗？

Zhège duì yùn fù ānquán ma?

Is this safe for pregnant women?

这个感冒药对孩子安全吗？

Zhège gǎnmào yào duì háizi ānquán ma?

Is this cold medicine safe for children?

这个要吃多久

Zhège yào chī duōjiǔ?

How long should I take this?

Meaning: How long should I take this?

When to use: Ask this when you want to know the total treatment period for a medicine.

医生说这个要吃多久？

Yīshēng shuō zhège yào chī duōjiǔ?

How long did the doctor say I should take this?

这个抗生素要吃多久？

Zhège kàngshēngsù yào chī duōjiǔ?

How long should I take this antibiotic?

下一次什么时候吃？

Xià yí cì shénme shíhou chī?

When should I take the next dose?

Meaning: When should I take the next dose?

When to use: Use this to ask about the time for the next dose in a dosing schedule.

我刚吃了一片，下一次什么时候吃？

Wǒ gāng chī le yí piàn, xià yí cì shénme shíhou chī?

I just took one tablet; when should I take the next dose?

如果医生说每八小时一片，下一次什么时候吃？

Rúguǒ yīshēng shuō měi bā xiǎoshí yí piàn, xià yí cì shénme shíhou chī?

If the doctor said one pill every eight hours, when is the next dose?

这个会让我犯困吗？

Zhège huì ràng wǒ fànkùn ma?

Can this make me sleepy?

Meaning: Can this make me sleepy?

When to use: Ask this if you need to know whether a medicine causes drowsiness or affects driving.

这个会让我犯困吗？我还要开车。

Zhège huì ràng wǒ fànkùn ma? Wǒ hái yào kāichē.

Will this make me sleepy? I still need to drive.

服用这个抗组胺药会让我犯困吗？

Fúyòng zhège kàng zǔmǐn yào huì ràng wǒ fànkùn ma?

Will taking this antihistamine make me drowsy?

你能解释一下用法吗？

Nǐ néng jiěshì yíxià yòngfǎ ma?

Can you explain the instructions?

Meaning: Can you explain the instructions?

When to use: Ask the pharmacist to clarify how to use the medicine (dosage, timing, special instructions).

这个说明我看不太懂，你能解释一下用法吗？

Zhège shuōmíng wǒ kàn bú tài dǒng, nǐ néng jiěshì yíxià yòngfǎ ma?

I don't quite understand these instructions — can you explain how to use it?

药瓶上的剂量复杂，你能解释一下用法吗？

Yàopíng shàng de jìliàng fùzá, nǐ néng jiěshì yíxià yòngfǎ ma?

The dosage on the bottle is complicated — can you explain the instructions?

我是来取处方药的。

Wǒ shì lái qǔ chǔfāng yào de.

I'm here to pick up a prescription.

Meaning: I'm here to pick up a prescription.

When to use: Say this when you arrive at the pharmacy to collect medicine that was prescribed or prepared.

你好，我是来取处方药的，姓王。

Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì lái qǔ chǔfāng yào de, xìng Wáng.

Hello, I'm here to pick up a prescription — surname Wang.

请问哪里取处方药？我今天来取处方药的。

Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ qǔ chǔfāng yào? Wǒ jīntiān lái qǔ chǔfāng yào de.

Where do I pick up prescriptions? I'm here today to collect a prescription.

这个药还能再开一点吗？

Zhège yào hái néng zài kāi yìdiǎn ma?

Can I get a refill of this medicine?

Meaning: Can I get a refill of this medicine?

When to use: Ask this when you need more of a medicine you've been using; note: the pharmacist may need a new prescription.

Tip: Don’t assume 'refill' always works the same — pharmacies may require a new prescription.

我的药快没了，这个药还能再开一点吗？

Wǒ de yào kuài méi le, zhège yào hái néng zài kāi yìdiǎn ma?

My medicine is almost out — can I get a bit more of this?

这是上次开的药，请问这个药还能再开一点吗？

Zhè shì shàng cì kāi de yào, qǐngwèn zhège yào hái néng zài kāi yìdiǎn ma?

This is the medicine from last time — can I have more of it?

我漏吃了一次药。

Wǒ lòu chī le yí cì yào.

I missed a dose.

Meaning: I missed a dose.

When to use: Tell the pharmacist if you forgot to take a scheduled dose of your medicine.

对不起，我漏吃了一次药，应该怎么办？

Duìbuqǐ, wǒ lòu chī le yí cì yào, yīnggāi zěnme bàn?

Sorry, I missed a dose; what should I do?

我上周出差，忘带药，所以我漏吃了一次药。

Wǒ shàng zhōu chūchāi, wàng dài yào, suǒyǐ wǒ lòu chī le yí cì yào.

I was on a business trip and forgot my medicine, so I missed one dose.

如果我忘了吃一次药，怎么办？

Rúguǒ wǒ wàng le chī yí cì yào, zěnme bàn?

What should I do if I miss a dose?

Meaning: What should I do if I miss a dose?

When to use: Ask this to know the correct action after you forget a pill (timing, whether to double-up, etc.).

如果我忘了吃一次药，怎么办？请告诉我下一步怎么做。

Rúguǒ wǒ wàng le chī yí cì yào, zěnme bàn? Qǐng gàosu wǒ xià yí bù zěnme zuò.

If I forget to take a dose, what should I do? Please tell me the next step.

很多人想知道：如果我忘了吃一次药，怎么办？要不要补吃？

Hěn duō rén xiǎng zhīdào: rúguǒ wǒ wàng le chī yí cì yào, zěnme bàn? Yào bù yào bǔ chī?

Many people want to know: if I forget a dose, what should I do? Should I make it up?

这个药应该怎么保存？

Zhège yào yīnggāi zěnme bǎocún?

How should I store this medicine?

Meaning: How should I store this medicine?

When to use: Ask this when you want to know the correct storage method (room temperature, refrigeration, keep away from light, etc.).

这个药应该怎么保存？需要放冰箱吗？

Zhège yào yīnggāi zěnme bǎocún? Xūyào fàng bīngxiāng ma?

How should this medicine be stored — does it need to go in the fridge?

包装上没写保存方法，请问这个药应该怎么保存？

Bāozhuāng shàng méi xiě bǎocún fāngfǎ, qǐngwèn zhège yào yīnggāi zěnme bǎocún?

The package doesn't say how to store it — how should I keep this medicine?

Simplified Chinese - Pharmacy

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase asks whether a medicine needs a prescription?

Which phrase asks if a medicine causes drowsiness?

Which phrase asks when to take the next dose?

Which sentence means 'I missed a dose'?

My medicine is almost out; at the counter I ask: Can I get a refill of this medicine?

I forgot to take my medicine yesterday; at the pharmacy I say: What should I do if I miss a dose?

After buying a new medicine I want to know how to store it, so I ask: How should this medicine be stored?

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice