substance used for a specific purpose (e.g. poisoning, explosion, fermenting)
HSK 2, n, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #674, Medium
药
yào
>种[zhǒng],服[fù],味[wèi]
HSK 2, n, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #674, Medium
药
yào
to poison
HSK 2, n, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #674, Medium
药
yào
drugs, medicine; the leaf of the Dahurian angelica plant
HSK 2, n, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #674, Medium
yào(yao4) T4
1leaf of the iris
2>药[yào]
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March 24, 2026
药(葯)yào(yao4)
The character 药 (yào) primarily means 'medicine' or 'drug' and refers to substances used for healing or treatment. It can also denote various types of herbal remedies, poisons, or substances with specific purposes in contexts like cooking or chemistry. This word is commonly used in medical settings, traditional Chinese medicine, and discussions about health.
Strokes9Radical艹Frequency#674DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, traditional medicine plays a significant role, and the concept of 药 encompasses not just modern pharmaceuticals, but also centuries-old herbal practices. Visiting a 中医 (zhōngyī - traditional Chinese doctor) is common for health issues, reflecting the cultural importance of medicinal plants.
Memory Tip
Imagine a leaf (the '艹' radical) that holds powerful healing properties, like a magic herb in a fantasy story. The character 药 looks like a person (the '月' radical) holding that leaf, symbolizing the idea that a person uses medicine to heal or help others. This connection helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation (yào).
Meanings of 药
yào(yao4)
1leaf of the iris
2medicine
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 药
药Simplified
葯Traditional
9Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#674Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 药
Podcast: 药
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AI Study Notes for 药
Quick Contrast
药 (yào) vs 药品 (yàopǐn) — use 药 for general terms or substances, while 药品 specifically refers to pharmaceutical products.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a leaf (the '艹' radical) that holds powerful healing properties, like a magic herb in a fantasy story. The character 药 looks like a person (the '月' radical) holding that leaf, symbolizing the idea that a person uses medicine to heal or help others. This connection helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation (yào).
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 药, as it is pronounced with a fourth tone (yào), which denotes a sharp, descending pitch. Common collocations include 药品 (yàopǐn - medicine products) and 中药 (zhōngyào - traditional Chinese medicine). A frequent mistake is to confuse 药 with the similar-sounding 友 (yǒu - friend), which has a completely different meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 药 connects well with other health-related vocabulary like 病 (bìng - illness) and 医院 (yīyuàn - hospital). Focus on using it in sentences related to health and wellness, as this will reinforce its meaning and context.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, traditional medicine plays a significant role, and the concept of 药 encompasses not just modern pharmaceuticals, but also centuries-old herbal practices. Visiting a 中医 (zhōngyī - traditional Chinese doctor) is common for health issues, reflecting the cultural importance of medicinal plants.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 药 (yào) with 医 (yī - doctor) due to their related meanings in health contexts. A wrong example would be saying '我去药看' instead of '我去看医生' (Wǒ qù kàn yīshēng - I am going to see a doctor).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 药
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Grammar Patterns of 药
药 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
He was epileptic and refused to take medication for his condition.
10
我们服的药相对来说药性温和，但是我们却在把它们变成毒药。
wǒ mén fú de yào xiāng duì lái shuō yào xìng wēn hé， ， dàn shì wǒ mén què zài bǎ tā mén biàn chéng dú。
We're taking relatively benign medicines and we're turning them into poisons.
Cultural Notes for 药
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, traditional medicine plays a significant role, and the concept of 药 encompasses not just modern pharmaceuticals, but also centuries-old herbal practices. Visiting a 中医 (zhōngyī - traditional Chinese doctor) is common for health issues, reflecting the cultural importance of medicinal plants.
Word Family of 药
Words Containing This Character20
药yàodrug藥
药物yàowùmedicaments藥物
药品yàopǐnmedicaments藥品
医药yīyàomedical醫藥
中药zhōngyào(traditional) Chinese medicine中藥
炸药zhàyàoexplosive (material)炸藥
毒药poison毒藥
弹药ammunition彈藥
药店yàodiànpharmacy藥店
农药farm chemical農藥
服药to take medicine服藥
制药to manufacture medicine制藥
药剂medicine藥劑
药片yàopiàna (medicine) pill or tablet藥片
火药huǒyàogunpowder火藥
安眠药ānmiányàosleeping pill安眠藥
止痛药painkiller止痛藥
药房pharmacy藥房
药丸pill藥丸
吃药to take medicine吃藥
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 药 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 药
Common forms include tablets, capsules, and herbal teas, reflecting both modern and traditional medicine practices.
You can say, '我需要买一些药' (Wǒ xūyào mǎi yīxiē yào) meaning 'I need to buy some medicine'.
No, 药 can also refer to substances used for specific purposes, like poison or ingredients in cooking.
