Chinese word

抗生素

Pronunciation

Pinyinkàng shēng sù

Meaning

  • nounantibiotic

Example

医生给我开了抗生素，让我按时吃完。yī shēng gěi wǒ kāi le kàng shēng sù ràng wǒ àn shí chī wán

The doctor prescribed antibiotics for me and told me to take the full course on schedule.

Illustration for 抗生素 (antibiotic)

More examples

服用抗生素时要遵医嘱，不要自行加量或减量。fú yòng kàng shēng sù shí yào zūn yī zhǔ bú yào zì xíng jiā liàng huò jiǎn liàng

When taking antibiotics, follow your doctor's instructions and do not increase or decrease the dose on your own.

Core concept

A targeted medicine that blocks the life and spread of harmful bacteria.

Common phrases

  • 口服抗生素kǒu fú kàng shēng sù

    oral antibiotic

  • 抗生素剂量kàng shēng sù jì liàng

    antibiotic dosage

  • 医生开抗生素yī shēng kāi kàng shēng sù

    doctor-prescribed antibiotics

Similar words

抗菌药物kàng jūn yào wù: Medicine for treating infection by stopping bacteria from growing or weakening their activity.
消炎药xiāo yán yào: Medicine that eases inflammation and helps reduce swelling or pain.
抗病毒药kàng bìng dú yào: Medicine that treats viral infection by slowing the growth of viruses.

Definition in Chinese

用于预防或治疗由细菌引起的疾病，通过抑制细菌生长或杀灭细菌起作用的药物。yòng yú yù fáng huò zhì liáo yóu xì jūn yín qǐ de jí bìng tōng guò yì zhì xì jūn shēng zhǎng huò shā miè xì jūn qǐ zuò yòng de yào wù

Word origin

抗 (kàng, "resist") + 生 (shēng, "life") + 素 (sù, "substance") forms a name for a substance that acts against living bacterial growth.

Usage tips

  • English speakers sometimes call any medicine for an infection an antibiotic, but this term applies to bacterial infections rather than viral ones.

Word lists with this word