Reading Medicine Label Instructions | Learn Korean in English

About This Lesson

Use Reading Medicine Label Instructions to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

약국에서 이 약을 받아 왔어요.

yak-KKOO-geh-suh ee YA-geul ba-DA wa-SSUH-yo I picked up this medicine at the pharmacy.

약사님이 복용 방법을 설명해 주셨어요?

yak-SSA-neem-ee bong-YONG bang-PPUH-buhl suhl-myung-heh joo-SYUH-ssuh-yo Did the pharmacist explain the instructions?

라벨에는 식사 후에 복용하라고 쓰여 있어요.

ra-BEL-leh-nuhn SIK-ssa HOO-eh bong-YONG-ha-ra-go SSUH-yuh ee-SSUH-yo The label says to take it after meals.

그럼 아침 식사 전에는 복용하지 마세요.

guh-RUM ah-CHIM SIK-ssa juh-NEH-nuhn bong-YONG-ha-jee ma-SEH-yo Then do not take it before breakfast.

복용량을 잘 모르겠어요.

bong-YONG-nyang-euhl jal mo-ruh-GET-ssuh-yo I am not sure about the dose.

라벨이 이해하기 어려우면 약국에 전화하세요.

ra-BEL-lee ee-HAE-ha-gee uh-RYUH-oo-myun yak-KKOO-geh juhn-HWA-ha-SEH-yo Call the pharmacy if the label is unclear.

추측하는 것보다 그게 더 안전해요.

choo-CHUH-ka-nuhn guht-PPOH-da guh-geh duh an-JUHN-heh-yo That is safer than guessing.

복용하기 전에 약사님이 정확한 복용량을 알려 주실 수 있어요.

bong-YONG-ha-gee juh-NEH yak-SSA-neem-ee juhng-HWA-kan bong-YONG-nyang-euhl al-LYUH joo-SHIL soo ee-SSUH-yo The pharmacist can tell you the correct dose before you take it.

Word by Word

약국에서 “약국에서” means at or from the pharmacy in this dialogue, where the medicine was picked up. “에서” marks the place where an action happens or the source from which something is obtained. It can be reused after a place when describing an action there.

이 “이” means this and points to the medicine being referred to. It appears directly before the noun “약” to identify a nearby or specific thing. Use “이” before a noun when referring to this particular item.

약을 “약을” means medicine and marks it as the object that was received. “약” is the medicine, and “을” marks the noun as the object of the action. It can be reused when medicine is the object of an action such as receiving or taking it.

받아 “받아” means receive and links receiving the medicine with the following action in “받아 왔어요.” It shows that the speaker received the medicine before coming back. The same connective form can link one action to a following action.

왔어요 “왔어요” means came back here; in “받아 왔어요,” it shows that the speaker came back after receiving the medicine, bringing it along. It is the polite form used to report that movement back to the current place. This form can describe coming to or back to a relevant place.

약사님이 “약사님이” means the pharmacist and marks the pharmacist as the subject of the explanation. “약사님” is an honorific way to refer to a pharmacist, and “이” marks the subject. Use this form when stating that the pharmacist performs an action.

복용 “복용” refers to taking medicine in this dialogue. It is used in medicine-related expressions such as “복용 방법” and “복용량.” Reuse it in compounds that describe how or how much medicine someone takes.

방법을 “방법을” means method and marks the method as the object of the explanation in “복용 방법을.” Together with “복용,” it refers to the instructions for taking the medicine. “방법을” can be used when a method or way is being explained.

설명해 “설명해” means explain and links with “주셨어요” in “설명해 주셨어요.” It presents explaining as an action provided to the listener. This connective form can link “설명하다” with a following helping or benefactive expression.

주셨어요 In “설명해 주셨어요,” “주셨어요” shows that the pharmacist provided the explanation for the listener. The expression therefore presents the explanation as help or a service received by someone. This pattern is useful when describing someone doing something for another person.

라벨에는 “라벨에는” means on the label and sets the label as the topic of the information that follows. “에” marks the location, while “는” highlights that location as the topic. It can be reused when stating what is written or shown in a particular place.

식사 “식사” means meal in “식사 후에,” referring to eating a meal before taking the medicine. It is a polite or formal word for a meal. It can be reused with time expressions such as “식사 후에” when giving medicine instructions.

후에 “후에” means after and follows “식사” in “식사 후에,” meaning after a meal. It places the following action after the noun or event before it. Use it after an event or noun to specify that something happens afterward.

복용하라고 “복용하라고” means saying or instructing someone to take the medicine in “복용하라고 쓰여 있어요.” The ending “-라고” marks the content of the instruction or written message. A label or notice can use the pattern “V하라고 쓰여 있어요” to say that it is written to do something.

쓰여 “쓰여” means is written and forms “쓰여 있어요,” describing information that appears in written form on the label. It links the written state with “있어요.” This form can be used when reporting what is written somewhere.

있어요 In “쓰여 있어요,” “있어요” indicates that the written information remains present on the label. Together, “쓰여 있어요” means that something is written there. This form can describe a continuing state shown in a place.

그럼 “그럼” means then or in that case, responding to the information about taking the medicine after meals. It introduces the practical conclusion that follows from what was just said. Use it to connect a previous statement with a resulting suggestion or instruction.

아침 “아침” means morning and contributes to the expression “아침 식사,” meaning breakfast in this dialogue. Here it helps identify the meal before which the medicine should not be taken. It can be used with “식사” when referring to breakfast as a meal.

전에는 “전에는” means before, with “아침 식사 전에는” meaning before breakfast. “는” highlights this time as the setting or point being discussed. It can follow an event or time expression when giving an instruction about what should happen before it.

복용하지 “복용하지” means not take in “복용하지 마세요.” It is the negative form that combines with “마세요” to make a prohibition. The pattern “V-지 마세요” is used to politely tell someone not to do something.

마세요 “마세요” means please do not when it follows “복용하지.” In “복용하지 마세요,” the whole expression politely instructs the listener not to take the medicine. Reuse “V-지 마세요” for a polite negative instruction.

복용량을 “복용량을” means dosage and marks the dosage as the object of not knowing. It refers specifically to how much medicine should be taken. It can be reused with expressions such as “정확한 복용량” when discussing the correct amount.

잘 In “잘 모르겠어요,” “잘” means well or clearly and helps express that the speaker does not know the dosage clearly. The whole expression therefore means that the speaker is not sure. “잘 모르겠어요” is a useful way to respond when information is unclear.

모르겠어요 “모르겠어요” means I do not know or I am not sure about the dosage here. It expresses uncertainty rather than a confident answer. It can be reused when responding to information that the speaker does not understand or know.

라벨이 “라벨이” means the label and marks the label as the subject of the condition in “라벨이 이해하기 어려우면.” The label is what is difficult to understand. Use this subject-marked form when describing what is unclear or difficult.

이해하기 “이해하기” means understanding and names the action of understanding in “이해하기 어려우면.” It is followed by “어려우면” to say that understanding the label is difficult. The pattern “V-기 어렵다” describes an action that is difficult to do.

어려우면 “어려우면” means if it is difficult in the condition “라벨이 이해하기 어려우면.” The ending “-면” makes the condition “if.” It can be reused after a description when giving advice for a particular situation.

약국에 “약국에” means to the pharmacy and marks the pharmacy as the destination of the phone call. In “약국에 전화하세요,” it identifies whom or where to call. Use a place followed by “에” with this kind of destination expression.

전화하세요 “전화하세요” means please call and gives a polite instruction to call the pharmacy. In this dialogue, the call is recommended when the label is difficult to understand. It can be reused with a person or place before it when telling someone to make a call.

추측하는 “추측하는” means guessing and describes the action in “추측하는 것보다.” It modifies “것,” turning the action of guessing into the thing being compared. This form can be reused before “것” when referring to an action as an option or activity.

것보다 “것보다” means than doing that or than that, and in “추측하는 것보다” it introduces the action used for comparison. The phrase compares calling for the correct information with guessing. The pattern “V-는 것보다” is used when comparing one action with another.

그게 “그게” means that or it and refers here to the safer action discussed just before, namely calling the pharmacy instead of guessing. It presents that action as the subject of the comparison with “더 안전해요.” It can be reused when referring back to an already mentioned choice or situation.

더 “더” means more and makes “안전해요” comparative in “더 안전해요,” meaning safer. It shows that one choice has a greater degree of safety than another. Place it before an adjective when making this kind of comparison.

안전해요 “안전해요” means is safe, and with “더” it means is safer in this dialogue. It describes the choice of calling the pharmacy as safer than guessing. It can be reused after an action or choice when evaluating its safety.

복용하기 “복용하기” means taking the medicine and names that action before “전에.” In “복용하기 전에,” it means before taking the medicine. The pattern “V-기 전에” is used to state what should happen before an action.

전에 “전에” means before and follows “복용하기” in “복용하기 전에.” It places the pharmacist’s explanation before the medicine is taken. It can be used after a noun or an action expressed with “-기” to mark what comes earlier.

정확한 “정확한” means correct or accurate and directly describes “복용량.” It identifies the dosage that the pharmacist can provide as the correct amount. It can be reused before a noun when emphasizing that the information or measurement is accurate.

알려 “알려” means tell or let someone know in “알려 주실 수 있어요.” It links the act of giving information with “주실,” which shows that the information is provided to someone. This form can be used when connecting telling or informing with a following helping expression.

주실 In “알려 주실 수 있어요,” “주실” shows that the pharmacist can provide the information for the listener. It contributes the idea of doing something for someone within the larger possibility expression. This pattern is useful when describing a person who can provide help or information.

수 “수” is the possibility element in “알려 주실 수 있어요,” which means can tell you or is able to let you know. It does not express the ability by itself here; its meaning comes from the construction with “-을 수 있어요.” Reuse “V-(으)ㄹ 수 있어요” to express possibility or ability.

Grammar Points

-(으)면

이해하기 어려우면

ee-HAE-ha-gee uh-RYUH-oo-myun

If it is difficult to understand

Attach -(으)면 to express a condition: “if” or “when” something happens.

-(으)ㄹ 수 있어요

알려 주실 수 있어요

al-LYUH joo-SHIL soo ee-SSUH-yo

Can you tell me?

Use -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요 to ask politely whether someone can do something.

Korean Vocabulary

라벨 noun

ra-BEL label

모르다 verb

mo-ruh-DA not know; be unsure 모르겠어요

받아 오다 verb

ba-DA oh-DA pick up and bring back 받아 왔어요

복용 방법 phrase

bong-YONG bang-PPUHP instructions for taking medicine

복용량 noun

bong-yong-nyang dose

복용하다 verb

bong-yong-ha-DA take medicine 복용하라고

설명하다 verb

suhl-myung-ha-DA explain 설명해 주셨어요

식사 후에 phrase

SIK-ssa HOO-eh after meals

아침 식사 전에는 phrase

ah-CHIM SIK-ssa juh-NEH-nuhn before breakfast

약 noun

yak medicine

약국 noun

yak-KKOOK pharmacy

약사님 noun

yak-SSA-neem pharmacist

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I picked up this medicine at the pharmacy.

Show Answer

약국에서 이 약을 받아 왔어요.

Did the pharmacist explain the instructions?

Show Answer

약사님이 복용 방법을 설명해 주셨어요?

The label says to take it after meals.

Show Answer

라벨에는 식사 후에 복용하라고 쓰여 있어요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

take medicine

Show Answer

복용하라고

not know; be unsure

Show Answer

모르겠어요

dose

Show Answer

복용량

pharmacist

Show Answer

약사님