Chinese word

中药

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhōng yào

Meaning

  • nounChinese herbal medicine

Example

我今天去医院，医生给我开了中药。wǒ jīn tiān qù yī yuàn yī shēng gěi wǒ kāi le zhōng yào

I went to the hospital today, and the doctor prescribed Chinese herbal medicine for me.

Illustration for 中药 (Chinese herbal medicine)

More examples

这种中药配方已经使用多年，副作用较少。zhè zhǒng zhōng yào pèi fāng yǐ jīng shǐ yòng duō nián fù zuò yòng jiào shǎo

This Chinese herbal medicine formula has been used for many years and has few side effects.

Core concept

Medicines based on Chinese medical theory and made from raw or processed natural materials, in forms from personal decoctions to standardized pills and tablets.

Common phrases

  • 开中药kāi zhōng yào

    prescribe Chinese herbal medicine

  • 中药配方zhōng yào pèi fāng

    Chinese herbal medicine formula

  • 配中药pèi zhōng yào

    prepare Chinese herbal medicine

Similar words

药yào: Any substance or preparation used to treat disease or improve symptoms.
西药xī yào: A medicine produced through modern medical knowledge and chemical methods.
草药cǎo yào: Medicinal plant material used in dried or boiled form for treatment.

Definition in Chinese

以中医理论为依据、由生药或其加工品组成的药物总称，形式可为煎剂、丸剂、颗粒、片剂等，既有个体配方也有标准化的中成药。yǐ zhōng yī lǐ lùn wèi yī jù yóu shēng yào huò qí jiā gōng pǐn zǔ chéng de yào wù zǒng chēng xíng shì kě wèi jiān jì wán jì kē lì piàn jì děng jì yǒu gè tǐ pèi fāng yě yǒu biāo zhǔn huà de zhōng chéng yào

Word origin

中药 (zhōngyào, "Chinese medicine") is formed from 中 (zhōng, "Chinese") and 药 (yào, "medicine"), linking the medicine to Chinese medical theory rather than to one particular dosage form.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this noun covers both ingredients prepared for boiling and ready-made products, so the form is often named separately when it matters.

Other meanings

  • traditional Chinese medicinenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 中药配方zhōng yào pèi fāngChinese herbal medicine formulanoun
  • 中药丸zhōng yào wánChinese herbal medicine pillnoun

Word lists with this word