If you’ve just moved to China, visiting a pharmacy can feel confusing — different brands, Chinese labels, unfamiliar rules… where do you even start?
Don’t worry! This guide will teach you the essential Chinese pharmacy vocabulary and useful sentences you can use to confidently buy medicine in China.
Whether you need cough syrup, cold medicine, painkillers, or simply want to ask a pharmacist for advice, these phrases will help you communicate clearly and safely.
💊 First Things First: Prescription vs. Non-Prescription Medicine in China
In China, some medications — especially antibiotics (抗生素 kàng shēng sù) — require a doctor’s prescription (处方 chǔfāng).
You cannot buy these freely at a pharmacy.
✔ Safe and normal
✔ Same rule for locals and foreigners
✔ Go to a clinic or hospital first if you need prescription medication
For everything else, pharmacies usually have helpful staff who can recommend over-the-counter (OTC) medicine based on your symptoms.
🗣️ Essential Chinese Pharmacy Phrases
Use these simple sentence patterns to ask for what you need:
1. 请问这里有…吗？
(Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ yǒu… ma?)
“Excuse me, do you have…?”
2. 我想买…
(Wǒ xiǎng mǎi…)
“I want to buy…”
You can add any medicine name or symptom after the blank.
Examples you can insert:
- 咳嗽药 (késou yào) – cough medicine
- 感冒药 (gǎnmào yào) – cold medicine
- 止痛药 (zhǐtòng yào) – painkillers
- 退烧药 (tuìshāo yào) – fever medicine
- 过敏药 (guòmǐn yào) – allergy medicine
💬 Mini Dialogue: At the Pharmacy in China
Here’s a practical, real-life conversation to help you communicate naturally.
👤 Customer:
你好，我最近有点儿咳嗽，能给我推荐一下咳嗽药吗？
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ zuìjìn yǒudiǎnr késou, néng gěi wǒ tuījiàn yíxià késou yào ma?
“Hello, I’ve been coughing recently. Can you recommend any cough medicine?”
👩⚕️ Pharmacist:
有的，这是止咳糖浆。一天三次，一次一勺。
Yǒu de, zhè shì zhǐké tángjiāng. Yì tiān sān cì, yí cì yì sháo.
“Yes, here is a cough syrup. Take it three times a day, one spoonful each time.”
👤 Customer:
这个药会不会让我犯困？
Zhè ge yào huì bú huì ràng wǒ fàn kùn?
“Will this medicine make me sleepy?”
👩⚕️ Pharmacist:
不会的，可以放心白天吃。
Bú huì de, kěyǐ fàngxīn báitiān chī.
“No, you can take it during the day without any problem.”
👤 Customer:
好的，谢谢！
Hǎo de, xièxie!
“Okay, thank you!”
⭐ Bonus Tips for Visiting a Chinese Pharmacy
✔ Pointing works! You can point to your throat, head, or nose to help explain symptoms.
✔ Pharmacies often have English-speaking staff in big cities.
✔ Many Chinese medicines come in herbal form — ask if you prefer Western-style medicine:
西药 (xī yào) – Western medicine
中药 (zhōng yào) – Chinese herbal medicine
🚀 Final Thoughts: Speak Confidently in Any Chinese Pharmacy
With these must-know Chinese pharmacy phrases, buying medicine in China becomes simple and stress-free.
Whether you’re dealing with a cold, allergies, or mild discomfort, you can now walk into any 药店 (yàodiàn, pharmacy) and explain what you need with confidence.
If you want to speak Mandarin fluently in daily life — at the pharmacy, supermarket, restaurant, or anywhere else — our SN Mandarin courses are designed exactly for you.
👉 Join our interactive Mandarin classes today and start speaking with confidence in real-life situations!
