New here? This is lesson 108 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
At the pharmacy in Traditional Chinese
After visiting the clinic, Maya stops at the pharmacy next door.
She needs something for her cough, but she also wants to ask about cold medicine, prescriptions, and whether a medicine might make her sleepy.
Learn to describe what you need before buying anything. A-Li happens to be there too: the pharmacist recognizes the tea he has been drinking all week.
By the end of this lesson
Ask for cough or cold medicine, describe symptoms, and check prescriptions, sleepiness, and generic options.
- 我想要買治咳嗽的藥I'd like medicine for a cough.
- 請問有感冒藥嗎？Do you have cold medicine?
- 這個需要處方箋嗎？Does this need a prescription?
- 這個會讓我想睡嗎？Will this make me sleepy?
- 有學名藥嗎？Is there a generic?
- 我有這些症狀I have these symptoms.
Scene — next to the clinic
The pharmacy is beside Dr. Chen's clinic on Banyan Lane. Maya comes in with a cough and looks over the medicine at the counter.
A-Li is nearby, resting across two stools. The pharmacist recognizes him and points out a tea he has been drinking all week.
Learn — ask for medicine
These six lines help you explain your symptoms and ask useful questions before choosing medicine. Listen to each one, then say it aloud.
Keep the questions short and direct at the counter.
我想要買治咳嗽的藥
I'd like medicine for a cough.
When to use it: Tell the pharmacist what kind of medicine you want to buy.
Here, 的 links the medicine to what it treats.
請問有感冒藥嗎？
Do you have cold medicine?
When to use it: Ask at the counter whether cold medicine is available.
請問 makes a question to a shop worker sound polite.
這個需要處方箋嗎？
Does this need a prescription?
When to use it: Check whether you need a prescription for a particular product.
In Taiwan, 處方箋 is the written prescription from a doctor.
這個會讓我想睡嗎？
Will this make me sleepy?
When to use it: Ask about sleepiness before choosing a medicine.
讓 introduces an effect the medicine might have on you.
有學名藥嗎？
Is there a generic?
When to use it: Ask whether a generic version is available.
我有這些症狀
I have these symptoms.
When to use it: Introduce the symptoms you are about to describe.
這些 points to more than one symptom.
Story — a stop at the pharmacy
Listen as Maya explains her cough at the pharmacy beside Dr. Chen's clinic. She asks a few questions before choosing anything.
The pharmacist also points out a tea A-Li knows well.
- Pharmacist你好，想找什麼？Hello. What are you looking for?
Maya我有這些症狀。I have these symptoms.- Pharmacist哪裡不舒服？What isn't feeling right?
- Maya我咳嗽兩天了。I've had a cough for two days.
- Maya我對盤尼西林過敏。I'm allergic to penicillin.
- Pharmacist好，還需要什麼？Okay. What else do you need?
- Maya我想要買治咳嗽的藥。I'd like medicine for a cough.
- Maya請問有感冒藥嗎？Do you have cold medicine?
- Pharmacist有。也可以看看這款茶，阿犛這個禮拜都在喝。Yes. You could also look at this tea; A-Li has been drinking it all week.
A-Li對啊，我每天喝一杯。That's right. I drink a cup every day.- Maya這個需要處方箋嗎？Does this need a prescription?
- Pharmacist這款茶不用，這盒藥也不用。Not for this tea, and not for this box of medicine either.
- Maya這個會讓我想睡嗎？Will this make me sleepy?
- Pharmacist這盒不會。This one won't.
- Maya有學名藥嗎？Is there a generic?
- Pharmacist有，我拿給你看。Yes. I'll show you.
Practice — choose what to ask
Use the meaning and the situation to choose the right pharmacy question. Some exercises also bring back lines from Maya's recent clinic visit.
Check each answer before you move on.
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Build the line
Build the line
I'd like medicine for a cough.
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Do you have cold medicine?
請問有____嗎？
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want to ask whether this medicine will make you sleepy rather than give you a headache.
這個會讓我____嗎？
What do you say?
What do you say?
The pharmacist shows you a medicine. Ask whether there is a generic version.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
我有這些症狀
What do you say?
What do you say?
The pharmacist asks how long you have been coughing. Tell them it has been two days.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
我對盤尼西林過敏
Pick the reply
Pharmacist says:
Pick the reply
想買什麼藥？
What medicine would you like to buy?
And you reply with:
Say it — your turn at the counter
Play Maya at the pharmacy counter. Tell the pharmacist what you need, then ask the questions that matter before you choose.
Listen to each reply and say your next line aloud.
- Pharmacist哪裡不舒服？What isn't feeling right?
- Maya (you)Introduce the symptoms you have.
Introduce the symptoms you have.
我有這些症狀
I have these symptoms.
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Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 我想要買治咳嗽的藥 | I'd like medicine for a cough. | |
| 請問有感冒藥嗎？ | Do you have cold medicine? | |
| 這個需要處方箋嗎？ | Does this need a prescription? | |
| 這個會讓我想睡嗎？ | Will this make me sleepy? | |
| 有學名藥嗎？ | Is there a generic? | |
| 我有這些症狀 | I have these symptoms. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Review today's pharmacy questions in Yak Cards before you need them at a counter.
Practise asking about one medicine at a time.
Open Yak Cards