About This Lesson
Use Clarifying medicine instructions safely to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我不确定自己是否看懂了这份药品说明。
wǒ bú quèdìng zìjǐ shìfǒu kàndǒng le zhè fèn yàopǐn shuōmíng I am not sure I understand this medicine label.
B
在服用下一剂药之前，给药剂师打电话。
zài fúyòng xià yí jì yào zhīqián, gěi yàojìshī dǎ diànhuà Call the pharmacist before you take the next dose.
A
我还想问问是否应该避免吃某些食物。
wǒ hái xiǎng wènwen shìfǒu yīnggāi bìmiǎn chī mǒuxiē shíwù I also want to ask whether I should avoid certain foods.
B
这值得确认一下，尤其是说明上提到用餐的时候。
zhè zhíde quèrèn yíxià, yóuqí shì shuōmíng shàng tídào yòngcān de shíhou That is worth checking, especially if the label mentions meals.
A
我服药后有点头疼。
wǒ fúyào hòu yǒudiǎn tóuténg I had a mild headache after taking it.
A
所以我应该把这件事告诉药剂师。
suǒyǐ wǒ yīnggāi bǎ zhè jiàn shì gàosu yàojìshī So I should bring that up.
B
问问这是否可能是副作用，以及要留意哪些警示信号。
wènwen zhè shìfǒu kěnéng shì fùzuòyòng, yǐjí yào liúyì nǎxiē jǐngshì xìnhào Ask whether it could be a side effect and what warning signs to watch for.
A
靠猜感觉很危险，尤其是用药的时候。
kào cāi gǎnjué hěn wēixiǎn, yóuqí shì yòngyào de shíhou Guessing feels risky, especially with medicine.
B
专业人士可以更清楚地解释这些风险。
zhuānyè rénshì kěyǐ gèng qīngchu de jiěshì zhèxiē fēngxiǎn A professional can explain the risks more clearly.
A
我可以在打电话之前把问题写下来。
wǒ kěyǐ zài dǎ diànhuà zhīqián bǎ wèntí xiě xiàlái I can write down the questions before calling.
B
这样打电话时就更容易理清内容了。
zhèyàng dǎ diànhuà shí jiù gèng róngyì lǐqīng nèiróng le That should make the call easier to follow.Word by Word
我
In “我不确定”, “我” means “I” and refers to the speaker. It is used as the subject when stating one’s own uncertainty, experience, or intention.
不
In “我不确定”, “不” negates “确定”, so the speaker is not sure. It commonly comes before the word or phrase being negated, including a description of certainty.
确定
In “我不确定”, “确定” means to be certain about whether the label was understood. It can be used with an embedded “是否” question when checking one’s certainty about something.
自己
In “自己是否看懂了”, “自己” refers back to the speaker and means “oneself” or “myself”. It is useful when the speaker wants to emphasize that they are checking their own understanding.
是否
In “是否看懂了”, “是否” introduces the question of whether something is true, here whether the speaker understood the label. It is useful inside statements or questions that ask for a yes-or-no answer.
看懂
In “是否看懂了”, “看懂” means to understand something through reading or looking, rather than merely seeing it. It can be followed by a written object such as the medicine instructions.
了
In “看懂了”, “了” indicates that understanding has been achieved or is being considered as a completed result. It is useful after an action when the result of that action matters.
这
In “这份药品说明”, “这” means “this” and points to the specific instructions being discussed. It is used before the noun phrase to identify something nearby or already in focus.
份
In “这份药品说明”, “份” is the classifier used for a document or a portion of something. It appears between “这” and the document noun in this phrase.
药品
In “这份药品说明”, “药品” means a medicine or pharmaceutical product. Here it specifies that the “说明” is information about medicine, so the phrase refers to medicine instructions.
说明
In “这份药品说明”, “说明” means the instructions or explanatory information on the medicine label. It can refer to written information that explains how a product should be used.
在
In “在服用下一剂药之前”, “在” places the action within the time before the next dose is taken. A useful pattern is “在” followed by an action and then a time expression such as “之前”.
服用
In “服用下一剂药”, “服用” means to take medicine. It is used with medicine as its object, especially when referring to following medication instructions.
下
In “下一剂”, “下” contributes the meaning of the next or upcoming dose. It combines with the quantity phrase to identify the dose that will be taken after the current one.
剂
In “下一剂药”, “剂” is the classifier for a dose of medicine. It appears between the modifier “下一” and the medicine noun in this expression.
药
In “下一剂药”, “药” means medicine. Here it follows the dose classifier and identifies what the dose consists of.
之前
In “服用下一剂药之前”, “之前” means “before” and places one action earlier than another. It commonly follows an action or event to form a time expression.
给
In “给药剂师打电话”, “给” introduces the person who receives the phone call, the pharmacist. A useful pattern is “给” plus a person plus an action directed to that person.
药剂师
In “给药剂师打电话”, “药剂师” means pharmacist, the professional being contacted for medicine advice. This word is useful when identifying the person who can answer questions about a medicine.
打电话
In “给药剂师打电话”, “打电话” means to make a phone call. “打” supplies the action of making the call, while “电话” identifies the telephone call; the whole expression can be used after “给” plus the person being called.
还
In “我还想问问”, “还” means “also” or “in addition”, adding another concern to the one already mentioned. It commonly comes before the verb phrase that expresses the additional intention.
想
In “我还想问问”, “想” means “want to” or “intend to” do something. It is followed here by the action of asking, and it is useful when stating an intention or plan.
问问
In “想问问是否应该避免吃某些食物”, “问问” means to ask or inquire, with the repeated form giving the request a light, conversational feel. It can introduce a question about whether a medicine-related action is appropriate.
应该
In “是否应该避免吃某些食物”, “应该” means “should” or “ought to”. It is placed before the action being considered and is useful when asking about the recommended action.
避免
In “避免吃某些食物”, “避免” means to avoid something. It is followed here by the action “吃” and its object, so it can be reused before an action that should not be carried out.
吃
In “避免吃某些食物”, “吃” means to eat and takes “某些食物” as its object. It is useful when discussing whether particular foods should be consumed.
某些
In “某些食物”, “某些” means certain or some unspecified items within a group. It comes before the noun and is useful when the exact foods have not been identified.
食物
In “某些食物”, “食物” means food. Here it is the object of “吃” and refers to the foods whose compatibility with the medicine needs to be checked.
值得
In “值得确认一下”, “值得” means that an action is worth doing, so checking the information is worthwhile. It is commonly followed by an action such as confirming or checking something.
确认
In “值得确认一下”, “确认” means to check and establish that information is correct. Here it refers to checking the medicine instructions or cautions with a pharmacist.
一下
In “确认一下”, “一下” presents the checking as brief or limited and makes the action sound less abrupt. It commonly follows an action when making a small request or describing a short check.
尤其
In “尤其是说明上提到用餐的时候”, “尤其” means “especially” and highlights the meal-related point as particularly important. It is useful before the specific detail that deserves extra attention.
是
In “尤其是说明上提到用餐的时候”, “是” helps identify the particular point being emphasized after “尤其”. The pattern “尤其是” can introduce the especially relevant person, thing, or situation.
上
In “说明上提到”, “上” means on or in the written text of the label. It is used after a document or surface when referring to information shown there.
提到
In “说明上提到用餐”, “提到” means to mention or refer to a topic. A useful pattern is a source followed by “提到” and the information or topic it contains.
用餐
In “用餐的时候”, “用餐” means to have a meal. Here it identifies the meal-time situation mentioned in the medicine instructions and comes before the time expression.
的
In “用餐的时候”, “的” links the preceding action “用餐” to “时候”, forming the meaning “when having a meal”. A useful pattern is an action or situation followed by “的时候” to express when it happens.
时候
In “用餐的时候”, “时候” means the time or occasion when something happens. It completes the time expression after “用餐的” and can be used to refer to a particular situation or period.
服药
In “服药后”, “服药” means to take medicine. Here it names the action that happened before the headache and is followed by “后” to establish the timing.
后
In “服药后”, “后” means “after” and places the headache after taking the medicine. It commonly follows an action or event to form a sequence in time.
有
In “有点头疼”, “有” helps present the headache as a symptom the speaker is experiencing. Together with “点”, it forms the expression for having a slight symptom rather than assigning the whole meaning to “有” alone.
点
In “有点头疼”, “点” means a little or somewhat and limits the intensity of the headache. It commonly appears in “有点” before a description of a mild condition or feeling.
头疼
In “有点头疼”, “头疼” means to have a headache. It names the symptom that occurred after taking the medicine and can be reported when explaining a possible side effect.
所以
In “所以我应该把这件事告诉药剂师”, “所以” means “so” or “therefore” and introduces the consequence of having had a headache. It is useful for connecting a reason or earlier fact to the action that should follow.
把
In “把这件事告诉药剂师”, “把” marks “这件事” as the object being deliberately handled or communicated. A useful pattern is “把” plus the object plus an action that affects or deals with it.
件
In “这件事”, “件” is the classifier for a matter or event. It appears between “这” and “事” when referring to this particular matter.
事
In “这件事”, “事” means a matter or thing, here referring to the headache after taking the medicine. The phrase identifies the information that should be told to the pharmacist.
告诉
In “把这件事告诉药剂师”, “告诉” means to tell or inform someone about something. It can be used with the person being informed and the information that is communicated.
可能
In “是否可能是副作用”, “可能” means “may” or “be possible” and presents the side effect as one possible explanation. It commonly appears before “是” and a noun describing what something might be.
副作用
In “可能是副作用”, “副作用” means a side effect of a medicine. It is the possible explanation for the headache that the speaker wants to discuss with the pharmacist.
以及
In “以及要留意哪些警示信号”, “以及” means “and” or “as well as” and links the question about a side effect with the question about warning signs. It is useful when adding a related point to a list or request.
要
In “要留意哪些警示信号”, “要” means that someone needs to or should do something. It comes before “留意” to state the action that needs attention.
留意
In “留意哪些警示信号”, “留意” means to pay attention to or watch for something. Here its object is the warning signs, and the expression is useful when discussing symptoms that require attention.
哪些
In “哪些警示信号”, “哪些” means which ones or what items among a group. It comes before the noun and asks the pharmacist to identify the relevant warning signs.
警示
In “警示信号”, “警示” means warning or alert and specifies that the signals indicate something important or concerning. It combines with “信号” to identify signs that should be watched for.
信号
In “警示信号”, “信号” means a signal or sign. Here it refers to observable warning signs that the person should watch for while using the medicine.
靠
In “靠猜感觉很危险”, “靠” means to rely on or use something as a means. It links the method “猜” to the assessment that relying on guessing is dangerous.
猜
In “靠猜感觉很危险”, “猜” means to guess. Here it describes trying to decide what the medicine instructions or symptoms mean without confirming with a professional.
感觉
In “靠猜感觉很危险”, “感觉” expresses the speaker’s subjective assessment that relying on guessing is dangerous. A useful pattern is an action or situation followed by “感觉” and a description of how it seems.
很
In “很危险”, “很” intensifies the description and means “very” or “quite”. It commonly comes before an adjective such as “危险” to describe the degree of a situation.
危险
In “很危险”, “危险” means dangerous or risky. It describes the risk of guessing about medicine rather than asking a professional.
用药
In “用药的时候”, “用药” means to use or take medicine. It names the medication-related situation and is followed by “的时候” to say “when using medicine”.
专业人士
In “专业人士可以解释”, “专业人士” means a qualified professional, here someone who can explain medicine-related risks. It is useful when referring generally to an expert rather than naming a specific person.
可以
In “专业人士可以解释”, “可以” means “can” and expresses ability or possibility. It comes before “解释” to say that the professional is able to provide an explanation.
更
In “更清楚地解释”, “更” means “more” and indicates an increased degree of clarity. It commonly comes before a description when comparing the result with an earlier or less clear situation.
清楚
In “更清楚地解释”, “清楚” means clearly or with a clear understanding of the information. Here it describes how the risks can be explained and is linked to the action by “地”.
地
In “清楚地解释”, “地” links “清楚” to “解释” and shows how the explaining is done. A useful pattern is a description followed by “地” before an action.
解释
In “清楚地解释这些风险”, “解释” means to explain or make information understandable. Here the object being explained is the medicine-related risks.
这些
In “这些风险”, “这些” means “these” and points to the risks currently under discussion. It comes before the noun to identify specific items already established in the conversation.
风险
In “解释这些风险”, “风险” means risk or possible danger. Here it refers to the dangers associated with guessing about medicine and possible warning signs.
问题
In “把问题写下来”, “问题” means the questions the speaker plans to ask the pharmacist. It is the object of “写下来” and can refer to information that needs to be prepared before a call.
写
In “把问题写下来”, “写” means to write. Together with “下来”, it describes recording the questions in written form so they can be used during the call.
下来
In “写下来”, “下来” indicates that the result of writing is recorded and kept in written form. It follows an action such as “写” when the speaker wants to emphasize putting information down for later use.
这样
In “这样打电话时”, “这样” means “this way” and refers to the plan of writing the questions down. It is useful for introducing the method that leads to the following result.
时
In “打电话时”, “时” means “when” or “at the time of” and places the situation during the phone call. It commonly follows an action to form a time expression.
就
In “这样打电话时就更容易理清内容了”, “就” connects the stated method and time with the resulting ease of following the content. The pattern “这样” plus a situation plus “就” can introduce a consequence.
容易
In “更容易理清内容”, “容易” means easy or easily, describing how manageable it will be to sort out the call’s content. It is preceded by “更” because the planned preparation makes the task easier.
理清
In “理清内容”, “理清” means to sort out or clarify information so that its order or meaning is understandable. Here it refers to following and organizing the content of the phone call.
内容
In “理清内容”, “内容” means the content or information being discussed during the call. It is the object that the speaker expects to be able to clarify more easily.
Grammar Points
尤其是 + 名词/短语
留意副作用，尤其是警示信号。
liúyì fùzuòyòng, yóuqí shì jǐngshì xìnhàoPay attention to side effects, especially warning signs.
尤其是 introduces a specific example or group that deserves special attention.
靠 + 动词
靠猜很危险。
kào cāi hěn wēixiǎnRelying on guessing is dangerous.
靠 + verb means relying on an action or method to achieve something.
Chinese Vocabulary
避免
verb
bìmiǎn
avoid
不确定
adj
bú quèdìng
be unsure
打电话
verb
dǎ diànhuà
make a phone call; call
服用
verb
fúyòng
take; ingest medicine
看懂
verb
kàndǒng
understand by reading
某些
det
mǒuxiē
certain; some
确认
verb
quèrèn
confirm; check
下一剂药
phrase
xià yí jì yào
the next dose of medicine
药剂师
noun
yàojìshī
pharmacist
药品说明
noun
yàopǐn shuōmíng
medicine label; medication instructions
尤其是
adv
yóuqí shì
especially
值得
verb
zhíde
be worth
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
the next dose of medicine
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下一剂药medicine label; medication instructions
Show Answer
药品说明avoid
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避免be unsure