How common it is
中药 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say zhōng yào slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
中药是用天然植物、动物或矿物做成的药，帮助人们恢复健康。
Zhōng yào shì yòng tiānrán zhíwù, dòngwù huò kuàngwù zuò chéng de yào, bāngzhù rénmen huīfù jiànkāng.
Traditional Chinese medicine is medicine made from natural plants, animals, or minerals, helping people recover health.
Context note
中药通常需要煮水喝，味道有点苦，但很有效。很多中国家庭会使用中药来治疗感冒。
Zhōng yào tōngcháng xūyào zhǔ shuǐ hē, wèidào yǒudiǎn kǔ, dàn hěn yǒuxiào. Hěnduō Zhōngguó jiātíng huì shǐyòng zhōng yào lái zhìliáo gǎnmào.
Traditional Chinese medicine usually needs to be boiled in water to drink, tastes a bit bitter, but is very effective. Many Chinese families use traditional Chinese medicine to treat colds.
5 examples
奶奶喝中药来治咳嗽。
nǎi nai hē zhōng yào lái zhì ké sou。
Grandma drinks traditional Chinese medicine to treat her cough.
中药店里有各种草药。
zhōng yào diàn lǐ yǒu gè zhǒng cǎo yào。
There are various herbs in the traditional Chinese medicine shop.
妈妈用中药给我泡脚。
mā ma yòng zhōng yào gěi wǒ pào jiǎo。
Mom uses traditional Chinese medicine to soak my feet.
中药的味道虽然苦，但对身体好。
zhōng yào de wèi dào suī rán kǔ， dàn duì shēn tǐ hǎo。
Although traditional Chinese medicine tastes bitter, it is good for the body.
医生开了一些中药给我。
yī shēng kāi le yì xiē zhōng yào gěi wǒ。
The doctor prescribed some traditional Chinese medicine for me.
5 mini stories
小红感冒了，妈妈给她煮中药。小红喝了中药后感觉好多了。
xiǎo hóng gǎn mào le， mā ma gěi tā zhǔ zhōng yào。 xiǎo hóng hē le zhōng yào hòu gǎn jué hǎo duō le。
Xiao Hong caught a cold, and her mom boiled traditional Chinese medicine for her. After drinking the traditional Chinese medicine, Xiao Hong felt much better.
爷爷每天喝中药调理身体。他说中药让他更有精神。
yé ye měi tiān hē zhōng yào tiáo lǐ shēn tǐ。 tā shuō zhōng yào ràng tā gèng yǒu jīng shén。
Grandpa drinks traditional Chinese medicine every day to regulate his body. He says traditional Chinese medicine makes him more energetic.
中药房里有很多抽屉，里面装着不同的中药。药师帮病人抓药。
zhōng yào fáng lǐ yǒu hěn duō chōu tì， lǐ miàn zhuāng zhe bù tóng de zhōng yào。 yào shī bāng bìng rén zhuā yào。
There are many drawers in the traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy, containing different traditional Chinese medicines. The pharmacist helps patients prepare the medicine.
小华肚子疼，妈妈给他喝了中药。过了一会儿，小华就不疼了。
xiǎo huá dù zǐ téng， mā ma gěi tā hē le zhōng yào。 guò le yí huì er， xiǎo huá jiù bù téng le。
Xiao Hua had a stomachache, and his mom gave him traditional Chinese medicine. After a while, Xiao Hua's pain went away.
中药是用很多种草药混合制成的。每种草药都有不同的作用。
zhōng yào shì yòng hěn duō zhǒng cǎo yào hùn hé zhì chéng de。 měi zhǒng cǎo yào dōu yǒu bù tóng de zuò yòng。
Traditional Chinese medicine is made by mixing many kinds of herbs. Each herb has a different effect.