Signification
Consuming pills for health.
Contexte culturel
Traditional medicine (Thnam Khmer) is still very popular. It often comes in large, bitter-tasting balls that require a lot of water to 'lep'. Color-coding: Cambodians often refer to medicines by their color (e.g., 'thnam krahom' for red pills) rather than the brand or chemical name. Pharmacy Culture: Many people go directly to the 'osoth-than' (pharmacy) to describe symptoms and get medicine without a doctor's prescription. Respect for Elders: When helping an elder take medicine, it is customary to use both hands to offer the water and the pill.
The Water Rule
Always imply water. In Khmer, if you say 'lep thnam', people will often ask 'យកទឹកទេ?' (Do you want water?)
Avoid 'Si'
Never use 'si' (eat) for medicine unless you are trying to be intentionally rude or talking about an animal.
Signification
Consuming pills for health.
The Water Rule
Always imply water. In Khmer, if you say 'lep thnam', people will often ask 'យកទឹកទេ?' (Do you want water?)
Avoid 'Si'
Never use 'si' (eat) for medicine unless you are trying to be intentionally rude or talking about an animal.
Politeness Matters
Use 'pisa' in hospitals. It makes you sound much more educated and respectful to the staff.
Bitter is Better
Many Cambodians believe that if a medicine isn't bitter ('lveang'), it isn't working. Don't be surprised if people complain about the taste but keep taking it!
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct verb for taking a pill.
ខ្ញុំឈឺក្បាល ខ្ញុំត្រូវ____ថ្នាំ។
'Lep' is the specific verb for swallowing medicine.
Which sentence is the most polite when speaking to an elder?
How do you tell your grandfather to take his medicine?
'Pisa' is the polite/formal version of 'lep'.
Complete the pharmacy dialogue.
Pharmacist: ថ្នាំនេះលេបមួយថ្ងៃ ៣ ដង។ Patient: បាទ/ចាស តើត្រូវលេប____បាយ ឬ____បាយ?
Common medical questions involve 'before' (mun) or 'after' (kroy) meals.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesខ្ញុំឈឺក្បាល ខ្ញុំត្រូវ____ថ្នាំ។
'Lep' is the specific verb for swallowing medicine.
How do you tell your grandfather to take his medicine?
'Pisa' is the polite/formal version of 'lep'.
Pharmacist: ថ្នាំនេះលេបមួយថ្ងៃ ៣ ដង។ Patient: បាទ/ចាស តើត្រូវលេប____បាយ ឬ____បាយ?
Common medical questions involve 'before' (mun) or 'after' (kroy) meals.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, in casual speech it's used as a general term for 'taking medicine', but 'phieuk' (drink) is more precise.
Yes, it's very common and friendly, especially in Phnom Penh.
You say 'ខ្ញុំភ្លេចលេបថ្នាំ' (Khnhom phlech lep thnam).
It is 'thnam kroab' (ថ្នាំគ្រាប់).
No, 'lep' is the verb. You don't need 'take' like in English.
Not really, medicine is usually discussed plainly, though 'si thnam' is very low-register.
Say 'សុំថ្នាំផ្ដាសាយ' (Som thnam phdasay).
It can mean 'chemicals', 'paint', or 'tobacco' depending on context.
Yes, it is perfectly fine for vitamins.
ថ្នាំមួយគ្រាប់ (Thnam mouy kroab).
Expressions liées
ចាក់ថ្នាំ
similarTo give/get an injection
លាបថ្នាំ
similarTo apply ointment/cream
ផ្សំថ្នាំ
specialized formTo dispense/mix medicine
ថ្នាំគ្រាប់
builds onPill/Tablet
ថ្នាំទឹក
contrastLiquid medicine
