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March 24, 2026
药物(藥物)yàowù(yao4wu4)
药物 (yào wù) refers to substances used for the treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of diseases and medical conditions. It encompasses a wide range of pharmaceuticals, including prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs. In everyday conversation, it is commonly used to discuss health, medicine, and pharmacy-related topics.
Frequency#2090DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, traditional medicine plays a significant role alongside modern pharmaceuticals. The concept of 药物 reflects the integration of both Western medicine and traditional Chinese remedies, showcasing the importance of holistic health.
Memory Tip
Imagine a doctor holding a large '药' (yào) bottle labeled '物' (wù) containing various colorful pills. The '药' looks like a traditional Chinese herb, which connects to medicine, while '物' reminds us of items or substances. Picture the doctor saying, 'This is my favorite medicine!' to help remember the pronunciation and meaning.
Meanings of 药物
yàowù(yao4wu4)
1medicaments
2pharmaceuticals
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About 药物
药物Simplified
藥物Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 药物
Podcast: 药物
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AI Study Notes for 药物
Quick Contrast
药品 (yàopǐn) vs 药物 (yàowù): Use 药物 for a broader category that includes all medical substances, while 药品 specifically refers to pharmaceutical products.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a doctor holding a large '药' (yào) bottle labeled '物' (wù) containing various colorful pills. The '药' looks like a traditional Chinese herb, which connects to medicine, while '物' reminds us of items or substances. Picture the doctor saying, 'This is my favorite medicine!' to help remember the pronunciation and meaning.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 药物 with 药 (yào), which means 'medicine' in a more general sense. 药物 is more formal and technical, often used in medical contexts. Common collocations include 药物治疗 (yào wù zhì liáo), meaning 'medication treatment.'
HSK Study Tips
While 药物 is not in the HSK vocabulary, it is related to other medical terms like 医生 (yī shēng, doctor) and 疾病 (jí bìng, disease) that may appear in HSK 4 or 5. Focus on understanding its usage in medical contexts to enhance your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, traditional medicine plays a significant role alongside modern pharmaceuticals. The concept of 药物 reflects the integration of both Western medicine and traditional Chinese remedies, showcasing the importance of holistic health.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 药 (yào) with 药物 (yào wù), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我需要买药物' instead of '我需要买药' when simply meaning 'I need to buy medicine' is incorrect; the former is more formal.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 药物
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Cultural Notes for 药物
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, traditional medicine plays a significant role alongside modern pharmaceuticals. The concept of 药物 reflects the integration of both Western medicine and traditional Chinese remedies, showcasing the importance of holistic health.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the term 'drug' can have a negative connotation associated with illegal substances, whereas 药物 is strictly associated with legitimate medical products.
Frequently Asked Questions about 药物
药物 (yàowù) is a more formal term that refers to drugs or medicines, often used in medical or scientific contexts. 药 (yào), on the other hand, is a more general term that can refer to any form of medicine, including herbal remedies. Understanding the context helps determine which term to use.
药物 is pronounced as yàowù in Pinyin. The first syllable '药' (yào) has a falling tone, while '物' (wù) has a falling tone as well. Practicing the tones is important for proper pronunciation in Chinese.
药物 (yàowù) means 'medicine' or 'drug' in Chinese. It refers to substances used for medical treatment or to alleviate symptoms of diseases. The term can encompass both prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs.
You can use 药物 in a sentence like this: 我需要一些药物来治疗我的感冒 (Wǒ xūyào yīxiē yàowù lái zhìliáo wǒ de gǎnmào), which means 'I need some medicine to treat my cold.' It is often used in a medical context.
No, 药物 can refer to all types of medications, including over-the-counter drugs and traditional remedies.
You can say 处方药 (chǔ fāng yào), which specifically refers to drugs that require a doctor's prescription.
药 is a more general term for medicine, while 药物 is more formal and refers specifically to medicinal substances.
