西药

西藥

xīyào

noun #66,307

Meanings

1 Western medicine (pharmaceuticals)
2 non-traditional drugs

Characters

Examples

我感冒一般吃西药,见效快。

Wǒ gǎnmào yībān chī xīyào, jiànxiào kuài.

I usually take Western medicine for colds because it works fast.

医生说西药和中药不要一起吃。

Yīshēng shuō xīyào hé zhōngyào bùyào yīqǐ chī.

The doctor said not to take Western and Chinese medicine together.

药店里西药和中成药都有。

Yàodiàn lǐ xīyào hé zhōngchéngyào dōu yǒu.

Pharmacies stock both Western medicine and patent Chinese remedies.

Tips

usage

西药 (Western drugs, mostly synthetic pharmaceuticals) is defined in opposition to 中药 (traditional Chinese herbal medicine) and 中成药 (packaged TCM pills). The division is institutional — Chinese hospitals typically have separate 西医 and 中医 wings.

Stroke Order

西 xī

药 yào