Module 7 of 12 · 全科中文 Primary Care
用药 Medicines and Taking Them
Talk patients through new and current medicines in Mandarin: the four key facts, teach-back, the full list with herbs, side effects, missed doses and cost.
By the end of this module you can…
- Explain any medicine in four parts: what it’s for, how to take it, side effects, and when to call.
- Check understanding with teach-back instead of “Do you understand?”
- Review every medicine, including Chinese herbs, supplements and medicines from abroad.
- Ask what happened to tell an allergy from a side effect, and talk through missed doses, stopping early and cost.
- Explain the reactions and combinations that can’t wait, and say where to go.
Key vocabulary
Fourteen words from this module. Tap the speaker to hear each one.
Kinds of medicine
- 药片yào piànTablet, pill
- 胶囊jiāo nángCapsule
- 药水yào shuǐLiquid medicine
- 药膏yào gāoOintment, cream
- 吸入器xī rù qìInhaler
- 止疼药zhǐ téng yàoPainkiller
- 降压药jiàng yā yàoBlood pressure medicine
- 保健品bǎo jiàn pǐnSupplements
How and when
- 一天一次yì tiān yí cìOnce a day
- 饭后fàn hòuAfter meals
- 饭前fàn qiánBefore meals
- 睡前shuì qiánAt bedtime
- 副作用fù zuò yòngSide effect
- 漏吃lòu chīTo miss a dose
Ten core phrases
The lines from this module’s take-home phrase sheet. In the course you can print them on one page for your pocket.
- 这个药是用来降血压的。Zhè ge yào shì yòng lái jiàng xuè yā de.This medicine is used to lower blood pressure.
- 一天一次，每天差不多同一个时间吃。Yì tiān yí cì, měi tiān chà bu duō tóng yí ge shí jiān chī.Once a day, at about the same time.
- 有的人会有副作用，如果很不舒服，给我们打电话。Yǒu de rén huì yǒu fù zuò yòng, rú guǒ hěn bù shū fu, gěi wǒ men dǎ diàn huà.Some people get side effects; if it’s bad, call us.
- 下次请把所有的药都带来，包括中药和保健品。Xià cì qǐng bǎ suǒ yǒu de yào dōu dài lai, bāo kuò zhōng yào hé bǎo jiàn pǐn.Next time, bring all your medicines, herbs and supplements too.
- 您说对这个药过敏，当时是什么反应？Nín shuō duì zhè ge yào guò mǐn, dāng shí shì shén me fǎn yìng?You’re allergic to it: what happened?
- 一般来说，忘了的话，想起来就吃；快到下一次了就跳过，不要吃双份。Yì bān lái shuō, wàng le de huà, xiǎng qǐ lai jiù chī; kuài dào xià yí cì le jiù tiào guò, bú yào chī shuāng fèn.Usually: if you forget, take it when you remember; skip it if the next is near. Don’t double up.
- 觉得好了，也不要自己停药，先跟我们商量。Jué de hǎo le, yě bú yào zì jǐ tíng yào, xiān gēn wǒ men shāng liang.Don’t stop on your own; talk to us first.
- 这个药的价钱对您来说有困难吗？Zhè ge yào de jià qián duì nín lái shuō yǒu kùn nan ma?Is the cost of this medicine hard for you?
- 您回家以后，会怎么跟家人说这个药？Nín huí jiā yǐ hòu, huì zěn me gēn jiā rén shuō zhè ge yào?How will you explain this medicine to your family?
- 处方已经发到您的药店了。Chǔ fāng yǐ jīng fā dào nín de yào diàn le.The prescription has been sent to your pharmacy.
What’s in Module 7
- Part 1 · Warm-UpWarm-Up: Pills and Habits
- Part 2 · The Words for MedicinesReading the PinyinSaying 副作用 vs. Writing 不良反应Vocabulary · Flash CardsFour Things About Every Medicine
- Part 3 · PrescribingThe Prescribing ScriptTeach-Back: Check It LandedKey PatternsBring Every BottleAllergy or Side Effect?When and How to Take It
- Part 4 · Staying on TrackMissed Doses and Stopping EarlyCost, Generics and RefillsDangerous Reactions and Combinations
- Part 5 · Concerns & HerbsWhat Patients SayHerbs Alongside MedicinesThree More Medicine Words
- Part 6 · Role-PlayRound 1 · Guided ConversationRound 2 · Controlled PracticeRounds 3, 4 & 5 · Independent
- Part 7 · Knowledge CheckModule 7 Knowledge Check
- Part 8 · Wrap-UpModule 7 HomeworkTake-Home Phrase SheetModule 7 Wrap-Up · 下次见
Practice it properly
The full module adds dialogues, role-plays, pronunciation drills and a Knowledge Check. Pass the check to earn a certificate of completion you can add to LinkedIn.