So you got sick in China but you're not ready to try Traditional Chinese Medicine yet? That's ok, we got you covered!
Here's a useful list of the most common western medicines with Chinese translations that you can take to the pharmacy so you can find what you need.
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Below you will find medicine labels for the most common illnesses such as:
●Pain & Fever [疼痛/ 发烧] téngtòng/ fāshāo
●Cough [咳嗽] késòu
●Head & Sinus Congestion [耳鼻喉炎] ěrbí hóuyán
●Sore Throat, Headache, Earache & Body Aches (Infections) [喉咙痛、头痛 耳痛、浑身疼 感染] hóu lóng tòng, tóu tòng, ěr tòng, hún shēn téng (gǎn rǎn)
●Sneezing, Runny Nose, Watery Eyes [打喷嚏, 流鼻涕, 眼睛流泪] dǎ pēntì, liú bítì, yǎnjīng liúlèi
●Upset Stomach [胃不舒服] wèi bù shūfú
●Constipation [便秘] biànmì
●Diarrhea [腹泻] fùxiè/ [拉肚子] lā dùzǐ
●Sleep Issues [睡眠问题] shuìmián wèntí
●Skin Allergy & Itching [皮肤过敏/ 瘙痒] pífū guòmǐn/ sāoyǎng
●Nasal Allergy [鼻过敏] bí guòmǐn
Remember that all medications may cause side effects, therefore make sure to read the labels carefully and don't forget to ask for clear instructions regarding dosage.
Pain and Fever
疼痛 téng tòng = pain
发烧 fā shāo = fever
Acetaminaphen [əˌsiːtəˈmɪnəfən]
对乙酰氨基酚 duìyǐxiānānjīfēn
(ex. Tylenol, Panadol)
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs):
非类固醇性消炎药
fēi lèi gù chún xìng xiāo yán yào
Ibuprofen [.aɪbju'proʊfən]
布洛芬 bù luò fēn
(ex. Motrin, Advil)
Naproxen [nə'prɒksən]萘普生 nài pǔ shēng
(ex. Aleve)
Aspirin ['æsprɪn]阿司匹林 ā sī pǐ lín
(ex. Bayer, St. Joseph's)
Cough
咳嗽 késòu
Dextromethorphan [dɛkstroʊmi'θɔrfn]美沙芬 měi shā fēn
(ex. Theraflu, Vicks)
Guaifenesin [ɡjʊrɪf'nezɪn]愈创甘油醚 yù chuàng gān yóu mí
(ex. Robitussin, Mucinex)
Throat Lozenges [θroʊt'lɑzəndʒ]咳嗽糖 ké sòu táng
(ex. Halls, Ricola, Golden Throat 金嗓子 jīn sǎng zǐ)
English teachers everywhere swear by this stuff!
Other useful terms:
Benzocaine [benzəʊ'keɪn]苯佐卡因 běn zuǒ kǎ yīn
Menthol [ˈmenθɔ:l]
薄荷醇 bò hé chún
Head and Sinus Congestion
耳鼻喉炎 ěrbí hóuyán
Decongestants: [.dikən'dʒestənt]
减充血剂 jiǎn chōng xuè jì
Pseudoephedrine [sjuːdoʊ.ᵻˈfɛdrɪn]
假麻黄碱 jiǎ má huáng jiǎn
(ex. Sudafed)
Oxymetazoline [ɒksɪmɛtəzə'lin]
羟甲唑啉 qiǎng jiǎ zuò lín
(ex.Sinex, Telnase)
Sore Throat, Headache, Earache & Body Aches (Infections)
喉咙痛 hóulóng tòng = sore throat
头痛 tóu tòng = headache
耳朵疼痛 ěrduo téngtòng = earache
身体疼痛 shēntǐ téngtòng = body aches
感染 gǎnrǎn = infections
Acetaminaphen [əˌsiːtəˈmɪnəfən]
对乙酰氨基酚 duìyǐxiānānjīfēn
(ex. Sore throat lozenges, Cepacol, Strepsils)
(see above)
General Antibiotics [.æntaɪbaɪ'ɑtɪk]
抗生素 kàng shēng sù
Penicillin [.penə'sɪlɪn]
青霉素 qīng méi sù
Amoxicillin [əˌmɔːksiˈsiːlən]
阿莫西林 ā mò xī lín
Sneezing, Runny Nose, Watery Eyes
打喷嚏 dǎ pēntì = sneezing
流鼻涕 liú bítì = running nose
眼睛流泪 yǎnjīng liúlèi = watery eyes
Antihistamine [.æntɪ'hɪstə.min]
抗组胺药 kàng zǔ àn yào
(ex. Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra)
Upset Stomach
胃不舒服 wèi bùshūfú
Bismuth subsalicylate ['bɪzməθsʌb'sæləsɪˌleɪt]
碱式水杨酸铋 jiǎn shì shuǐ yáng suān bì
(ex.Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate)
Bicarbonate Tablets [ˌbaɪ'kɑ:bənət]
碳酸氢钠片 tàn suān qīng nà piàn
(ex. Alka Seltzer)
Simethicone ['saɪmθɪkəʊn]
西甲硅油 xī jiǎ guī yóu
(ex. Gas-X)
Antacids [ænt'æsɪd]
解酸药 jiě suān yào
(ex.Rolaids, Tums)
Dimenhydrinate [ˌdaɪmen'haɪdrəˌneɪt]
茶苯海明 chá běn hǎi míng
(ex. Dramamine)
Constipation
便秘 biànmì
Senna glycoside ['senə'glaɪkəˌsaɪd]
番泻叶 fān xiè yè
(ex. Ex-Lax)
Other useful terms:
Glycerin ['ɡlɪsərɪn]
甘油 gān yóu
Bisacodyl ['bɪzəkədɪl]
比沙可啶 bǐ shā kě dìng
Diarrhea
腹泻 fù xiè
（拉肚子 lā dùzǐ）
Attapulgite [ətæ'pʌldʒɪt]
凹凸棒石 āo tū bàng shí
(ex. Diocalm, Diatrol)
Loperamide ['ləʊpərəmɪd]
洛哌丁胺 luò pài dīng àn
(ex. Imodium A-D)
Bismuth subsalicylate ['bɪzməθsʌb'sæləsɪˌleɪt]
碱式水杨酸铋 jiǎn shì shuǐ yáng suān bì
(ex.Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate)
(see above)
Sleep Issue
睡眠问题 shuìmián wèntí
Antihistamine [.æntɪ'hɪstə.min]抗组胺药 kàng zǔ àn yào
(see above)
Diphenhydramine [dɪfen'hɪdrʌmən]
苯海拉明 běn hǎi lā míng
(ex. Benadryl, Tylenol PM)
Melatonin [.melə'toʊnɪn]
褪黑素 tuì hēi sù
Skin Allergy & Itching
皮肤过敏 pífū guòmǐn = skin allergy
瘙痒 sāoyǎng = itching
Antihistamine [.æntɪ'hɪstə.min]抗组胺药 kàng zǔ àn yào
(see above)
Diphenhydramine [dɪfen'hɪdrʌmən]
苯海拉明 běn hǎi lā míng
(see above)
Nasal Allergy
鼻过敏 bí guòmǐn
Cromolyn sodium [k'rɒməʊlɪn'soʊdiəm]
色甘酸钠 sè gān suān nà
(ex. Nasalcrom)
Source: Culturalbility
Disclaimer: we are not licensed, medical professionals. We just care about you and want to you adapt to life in China - Although we consulted medical professionals and pharmacists for this post, if you are uncertain of any medication, we advise you to please visit the nearest hospital and ask a qualified doctor.
Please note that because of COVID-19 any anti-fever drugs like paracetamol require you to give your ID number; and may be restricted at the moment.
Buying Medicine Online
If you're not feeling great (or you're just lazy), most of the medicines mentioned are available to order on Meituan, right to your door.
Open the Meituan App > 医疗/牙科 (page 2) > 药店 > make your choice
