今天练习药店、怎么吃药和问价格。 Today you practice the pharmacy, how to take medicine, and asking prices.
LEVEL/WORDCOUNT: HSK2 / 451 Chinese characters (approx.)
买药
昨天看完医生以后，我拿了药方，可是医院的药有点儿贵，我想去外面的药店看看。 今天下午，我先在家休息了一会儿，再出门去药店。药店离我家不远，走路五分钟就到了。
进了药店，我看到很多药在柜台上，也看到有人在排队。我等了一会儿，轮到我时，我把药方给店员看。 店员问我：“你要买哪一种？这个是进口的，比较贵；这个是普通的，便宜一点儿。”
我想了想，说：“我要便宜一点儿的。请问，一共多少钱？”店员说：“一共四十五块。” 我付了钱，又问：“这个药怎么吃？”店员说：“一天三次，每次两片，饭后吃。喝水的时候一起吃就行。”
我说谢谢，把药放进包里。回家的路上，我觉得自己学会了在药店问价格，也学会了怎么吃药。 回到家以后，我先喝水，再吃药，然后继续休息。
Mǎi Yào (Pinyin)
Zuótiān kàn wán yīshēng yǐhòu, wǒ ná le yàofāng, kěshì yīyuàn de yào yǒudiǎnr guì, wǒ xiǎng qù wàimiàn de yàodiàn kànkan. Jīntiān xiàwǔ, wǒ xiān zài jiā xiūxi le yíhuǐr, zài chūmén qù yàodiàn. Yàodiàn lí wǒ jiā bú yuǎn, zǒulù wǔ fēnzhōng jiù dào le.
Jìn le yàodiàn, wǒ kàn dào hěn duō yào zài guìtái shàng, yě kàn dào yǒu rén zài páiduì. Wǒ děng le yíhuǐr, lún dào wǒ shí, wǒ bǎ yàofāng gěi diànyuán kàn. Diànyuán wèn wǒ: “Nǐ yào mǎi nǎ yì zhǒng? Zhège shì jìnkǒu de, bǐjiào guì; zhège shì pǔtōng de, piányi yìdiǎnr.”
Wǒ xiǎng le xiǎng, shuō: “Wǒ yào piányi yìdiǎnr de. Qǐngwèn, yígòng duōshao qián?” Diànyuán shuō: “Yígòng sìshíwǔ kuài.” Wǒ fù le qián, yòu wèn: “Zhège yào zěnme chī?” Diànyuán shuō: “Yì tiān sān cì, měi cì liǎng piàn, fànhòu chī. Hē shuǐ de shíhou yìqǐ chī jiù xíng.”
Wǒ shuō xièxie, bǎ yào fàng jìn bāo lǐ. Huí jiā de lùshang, wǒ juéde zìjǐ xuéhuì le zài yàodiàn wèn jiàgé, yě xuéhuì le zěnme chīyào. Huí dào jiā yǐhòu, wǒ xiān hē shuǐ, zài chīyào, ránhòu jìxù xiūxi.
Buying Medicine
After seeing the doctor yesterday, I got a prescription, but the medicine at the hospital was a bit expensive, so I wanted to check a pharmacy outside. This afternoon, I rested at home for a while first, and then went out to the pharmacy. The pharmacy is not far from my home; it takes five minutes to walk there.
After entering the pharmacy, I saw many medicines on the counter and also saw people lining up. I waited for a while, and when it was my turn, I showed the prescription to the clerk. The clerk asked, “Which kind do you want? This one is imported and is more expensive; this one is common and a bit cheaper.”
I thought for a moment and said, “I want the cheaper one. Excuse me, how much is it in total?” The clerk said, “Forty-five yuan in total.” I paid and asked again, “How do I take this medicine?” The clerk said, “Three times a day, two pills each time, after meals. Just take it together when you drink water.”
I said thank you and put the medicine in my bag. On the way home, I felt I learned how to ask the price at the pharmacy and also learned how to take medicine. After I got home, I drank water first, then took the medicine, and then continued to rest.
Help
How to Use the Audio
The audio is designed to help you improve your Mandarin Chinese listening skills and pronunciation. You can use it in two ways:
- Before reading: Listen to understand rhythm, intonation, and natural speech.
- After reading: Listen again to compare pronunciation and improve fluency.
Vocabulary
| Characters | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 药方 | yàofāng | prescription |
| 药店 | yàodiàn | pharmacy |
| 柜台 | guìtái | counter |
| 排队 | páiduì | line up |
| 轮到 | lún dào | it’s one’s turn |
| 进口 | jìnkǒu | imported |
| 普通 | pǔtōng | common; regular |
| 便宜 | piányi | cheap |
| 一共 | yígòng | in total |
| 片 | piàn | tablet; slice (measure word) |
Grammar
[比较… (comparatively…)]
Use 比较 before an adjective to mean “rather” or “relatively.” It is useful when comparing choices, such as imported vs. regular medicine, or expensive vs. cheaper. This structure keeps the sentence simple and polite. It often appears in shopping and service conversations.
Examples: 这个是进口的，比较贵。, 这个比较便宜。
[轮到…的时候… (when it’s…’s turn…)]
Use 轮到 to say it becomes someone’s turn, often in lines. You can add 的时候 to describe what happens at that moment. This is very common in places like pharmacies, banks, and ticket counters. It helps you tell a sequence clearly.
Examples: 轮到我时，我把药方给店员看。, 轮到你的时候，你就可以问价格。
Idiomatic Expressions
看看
A soft expression meaning “take a look” or “check,” often used when comparing options or asking someone to show something. It sounds polite and not too direct. It is very common in service situations.
Example: 我想去外面的药店看看。
有点儿
Used to soften an adjective, like “a bit expensive.” It is helpful when talking about prices politely. It also appears in feelings and weather descriptions.
Example: 医院的药有点儿贵。
便宜一点儿
A useful shopping phrase meaning “a bit cheaper.” It helps you express preference without sounding too strong. It is common for choosing between two options.
Example: 这个是普通的，便宜一点儿。
一天三次
A common phrase on medicine instructions, meaning how often to take something. It is useful for health conversations. It is often followed by “每次…” to say the amount each time.
Example: 一天三次，每次两片。
就行
Means “that will do / that’s fine,” often used to give simple instructions. It sounds natural and casual, and it reduces complexity. You hear it a lot in daily service conversations.
Example: 喝水的时候一起吃就行。
Cultural Insights
Pharmacies and price choices
In many places, people may compare prices between a hospital pharmacy and an outside pharmacy, especially for common medicines. Pharmacists often explain differences such as imported vs. regular products, using simple comparisons like “比较贵” or “便宜一点儿.” Asking “一共多少钱？” is a normal and polite way to confirm the total price.
Lining up at a counter is common, so learners often hear words like 排队 and 轮到. Having a prescription makes the conversation faster because the clerk can see what you need.
Simple medicine instructions
Medicine instructions are usually given in clear daily language: how many times per day, how many pills, and whether to take it after meals. Many people will ask “怎么吃？” even if the box has instructions, just to be sure. Drinking water and resting are also common advice alongside medicine.
People often keep medicine in a bag and take it home immediately, especially when they are not feeling well. Learning these phrases helps you handle real-life health situations with confidence.
10 Questions
- 他为什么去外面的药店？ (答案)
- 他今天下午先做了什么？ (答案)
- 药店离他家多远？ (答案)
- 他在药店看到了什么？ (答案)
- 他给店员看了什么？ (答案)
- 店员说两种药有什么不同？ (答案)
- 他选择了哪一种？ (答案)
- 一共多少钱？ (答案)
- 这个药一天几次？ (答案)
- 回到家以后他先做什么？ (答案)
Multiple Choice
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True or False
- 他拿了药方。 (答案)
- 医院的药很便宜。 (答案)
- 药店离他家很远。 (答案)
- 他看到有人在排队。 (答案)
- 店员说进口的药比较贵。 (答案)
- 他选择了最贵的药。 (答案)
- 一共四十五块。 (答案)
- 这个药一天一次。 (答案)
- 每次两片。 (答案)
- 回到家以后他先喝水。 (答案)
Retell the Story
请用你自己的话重写这个故事。
Hints: 药方 / 药店 / 进口和普通 / 一共四十五块 / 怎么吃药
