Chinese word

西药

Pronunciation

Pinyinxī yào

Meaning

  • nounwestern medicine

Example

如果感冒了，可以吃点西药缓解症状。rú guǒ gǎn mào le ké yǐ chī diǎn xī yào huán jiě zhèng zhuàng

If you catch a cold, you can take some western medicine to relieve the symptoms.

Illustration for 西药 (western medicine)

More examples

感冒时不要随便吃西药，最好先问医生。gǎn mào shí bú yào suí biàn chī xī yào zuì hǎo xiān wèn yī shēng

When you have a cold, do not take western medicine casually; it is best to ask a doctor first.

Core concept

A medicine made or used within modern Western medical practice, often as a chemical drug or a modern manufactured preparation.

Common phrases

  • 吃西药chī xī yào

    take western medicine

  • 买西药mǎi xī yào

    buy western medicine

  • 西药的副作用xī yào de fù zuò yòng

    side effects of western medicine

Similar words

中药zhōng yào: Traditional medicine made from natural ingredients such as herbs and used to improve health.
处方药chǔ fāng yào: Medicine available only with a doctor's prescription and used according to medical instructions.
非处方药fēi chǔ fāng yào: Medicine available without a prescription for easing symptoms over a short time.
药物yào wù: A substance of chemical or natural origin used for treating illness or easing symptoms.

Definition in Chinese

按照西医理论和方法研制或使用的药物，通常指化学合成或现代制剂，用于缓解或治疗疾病的症状。àn zhào xī yī lǐ lùn hé fāng fǎ yán zhì huò shǐ yòng de yào wù tōng cháng zhǐ huà xué hé chéng huò xiàn dài zhì jì yòng yú huán jiě huò zhì liáo jí bìng de zhèng zhuàng

Word origin

西药 (xīyào, "western medicine") is formed from 西 (xī, "west") and 药 (yào, "medicine"), a transparent term for medicine associated with Western medical practice.

Usage tips

  • In Chinese, the verb used for eating is also common for taking medicine, while English normally uses "take."

Opposites

Related words

  • 西药店xī yào diànpharmacy for western medicinenoun
  • 西药片xī yào piànwestern medicine tabletnoun

Word lists with this word