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A2 noun #4,500 most common 10 min read

药房

yàofáng Top 4,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 药房 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 药房 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 药房 (yàofáng) means a place where you get medicine. It is a very useful word for travelers or beginners living in China. You should learn it alongside other basic location words like 商店 (shop), 医院 (hospital), and 厕所 (toilet). At this stage, focus on simple sentences like '药房在哪儿？' (Where is the pharmacy?) and '我去药房' (I am going to the pharmacy). You don't need to worry about the subtle differences between 药房 and 药店 yet; just recognize that 药 (yào) means medicine and 房 (fáng) means room. Think of it as the 'medicine room.' This level is about survival and basic identification of the word on signs and maps.

At the A2 level, you should be able to use 药房 in the context of daily tasks. This includes buying simple items over the counter or following basic directions in a hospital. You should understand that 药房 is the place you go after seeing a doctor to '取药' (qǔyào - collect medicine). You can start using measure words like '一家' (yī jiā) to talk about the pharmacy as a business. You should also be able to describe why you are going there, such as '我感冒了，要去药房买药' (I have a cold, I need to go to the pharmacy to buy medicine). At this level, you are beginning to connect the word to related health vocabulary like '感冒' (cold), '发烧' (fever), and '医生' (doctor).

At the B1 level, you should understand the distinction between 药房 and 药店. You should know that 药房 is more likely to be found inside a hospital or be a larger, more professional establishment. You can handle more complex interactions, such as asking a pharmacist for advice or explaining a specific symptom. You should also be familiar with compound words like '中药房' (Chinese medicine pharmacy) and '西药房' (Western medicine pharmacy). Your sentences should become more descriptive: '这家药房的药很全' (This pharmacy has a very complete stock of medicine). You might also start to notice the word in media, like hearing about '24小时药房' in a news report or a city guide.

At the B2 level, you can use 药房 to discuss more abstract or systemic topics. You might talk about the '医药分离' (separation of medical consultation and drug sales) policy in China and how it affects hospital pharmacies. You should be able to use the word in formal contexts, such as writing an email to inquire about a medication's availability. You will also understand the professional roles associated with the pharmacy, such as '药剂师' (pharmacist). Your vocabulary should include terms like '处方药' (prescription drugs) and '非处方药' (OTC drugs), and you should know how these are handled differently within a 药房 setting. You can engage in discussions about the quality and regulation of pharmacies.

At the C1 level, your understanding of 药房 should include its historical and cultural nuances. You can discuss the evolution of the Chinese pharmacy from traditional '药铺' to modern '大药房'. You should be able to read and understand complex pharmaceutical labels and instructions found in a pharmacy. You can appreciate the literary use of the word in novels or historical accounts. You are also capable of discussing the economic aspects of the pharmacy industry, such as supply chain issues or the rise of '网上药房' (online pharmacies) and their impact on traditional retail. Your use of the word is precise, and you can switch between formal and informal registers depending on the audience.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of the term 药房 and its various connotations. You can analyze the etymology of the characters and their philosophical implications in Chinese medicine. You might participate in high-level academic or professional debates about pharmaceutical ethics, clinical pharmacy practices, or the integration of TCM pharmacies in modern healthcare. You understand the most obscure references to pharmacies in classical literature. You can use the word in highly specialized contexts, such as discussing the '药房管理系统' (Pharmacy Management System) or the nuances of '临床药房' (clinical pharmacy). Your understanding is near-native, encompassing not just the word itself, but the entire social and professional infrastructure it represents.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

药房 in 30 Seconds

药房 (yàofáng) primarily means 'pharmacy' or 'dispensary,' commonly used in hospital settings for medicine collection.
It is a noun composed of 药 (medicine) and 房 (room), highlighting its function as a dedicated space for health.
While synonymous with 药店, it carries a more clinical tone and is the standard term used within medical institutions.
Commonly paired with verbs like 取 (collect) or 买 (buy), it is an essential word for navigating healthcare in China.

The Chinese term 药房 (yàofáng) is a fundamental noun that every learner of Mandarin should master, particularly those navigating daily life in a Chinese-speaking environment. At its core, it translates to 'pharmacy' or 'dispensary.' However, its usage carries specific nuances depending on the setting. In a broad sense, it refers to any place where medicines are prepared and dispensed. While often used interchangeably with 药店 (yàodiàn - drugstore), 药房 frequently carries a slightly more clinical or institutional connotation. You will most commonly encounter this word within the walls of a hospital (医院) or a clinic (诊所), where patients take their prescriptions to receive their medication after a consultation.

The Hospital Context: In Chinese hospitals, the 'dispensary' is almost always labeled as 药房. After seeing a doctor, the patient proceeds to the 缴费处 (payment counter) and then to the 药房 to collect their drugs. It is the heart of the medical facility's logistics.

请到一楼的药房取药。 (Qǐng dào yīlóu de yàofáng qǔyào.) — Please go to the pharmacy on the first floor to collect your medicine.

Beyond the hospital, 药房 can also refer to independent retail pharmacies. In modern urban centers like Shanghai or Beijing, you will see signs for 'XX大药房' (XX Grand Pharmacy). The use of '房' (room/house) instead of '店' (shop) often lends a sense of professional authority or historical tradition. Historically, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shops were often referred to as 药铺 (yàopù), but today, a shop selling both Western and Chinese medicine will likely call itself a 药房.

Retail vs. Institutional: While 药店 is the common word for a street-side drugstore where you buy Band-Aids or vitamins, 药房 is the term used when the focus is on the professional act of dispensing prescriptions. If you are in a hospital, you never say 药店; you always say 药房.

Cultural Nuance: In traditional literature, 药房 might also refer to the private study or room where a physician prepares herbal decoctions. It implies a space of knowledge and healing.

这家药房是百年老字号。 (Zhè jiā yàofáng shì bǎinián lǎozìhào.) — This pharmacy is a century-old established brand.

In summary, use 药房 when you are in a medical institution or when referring to a high-end, professional retail pharmacy. It is a word of reliability and health. Whether you are dealing with a minor cold or a chronic condition, the 药房 is the final stop in the Chinese healthcare journey, bridging the gap between the doctor's diagnosis and the patient's recovery.

Using 药房 correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as a noun and the verbs that typically accompany it. Because it is a location, it often follows prepositions like 在 (zài - at/in) or verbs of motion like 去 (qù - to go) and 到 (dào - to arrive).

Common Verb Pairings: The most common action associated with a pharmacy is 'collecting medicine' (取药 - qǔyào). Therefore, you will often see the pattern: '去药房取药' (go to the pharmacy to get medicine). Another common verb is '开' (kāi - to open/prescribe), used in the context of a doctor sending a prescription to the pharmacy.

我必须去药房买些感冒药。 (Wǒ bìxū qù yàofáng mǎi xiē gǎnmàoyào.) — I must go to the pharmacy to buy some cold medicine.

When describing the pharmacy's location or status, you use the measure word 家 (jiā) or 间 (jiān). '家' is the standard measure word for business establishments, while '间' is used when referring to the pharmacy as a specific room within a larger building like a hospital.

Sentence Structure: Possession and Attributes: You can use '的' (de) to describe the pharmacy. For example, '药房的药师' (the pharmacy's pharmacist) or '药房的服务' (the pharmacy's service). This allows you to discuss the qualities of the establishment.

那间药房的药品种类非常齐全。 (Nà jiān yàofáng de yàopǐn zhǒnglèi fēicháng qíquán.) — That pharmacy has a very complete variety of medicines.

In more advanced contexts, 药房 can be part of a compound noun, such as '中药房' (Chinese medicine pharmacy) or '西药房' (Western medicine pharmacy). This is crucial in China, where hospitals often have separate counters for different types of medicine. Understanding these distinctions helps in following signs and directions correctly.

Asking for Directions: To ask where it is: '请问，药房在哪儿？' (Excuse me, where is the pharmacy?). To ask if one is nearby: '这附近有药房吗？' (Is there a pharmacy nearby?).

他在药房工作了十年。 (Tā zài yàofáng gōngzuòle shí nián.) — He has worked in the pharmacy for ten years.

The word 药房 is ubiquitous in the daily life of anyone living in a Sinophone society. Its most frequent 'natural habitat' is the hospital environment. If you visit a public hospital (公立医院) in China, the signage will prominently feature '药房'. You will hear nurses directing patients with phrases like '请去二楼药房排队' (Please go to the second-floor pharmacy to queue). The sound of numbers being called out over a loudspeaker in a crowded hospital lobby is the quintessential auditory backdrop for this word.

“35号，请到3号窗口药房取药。” (“Sānshíwǔ hào, qǐng dào sànhào chuāngkǒu yàofáng qǔyào.”) — "Number 35, please go to pharmacy window number 3 to collect your medicine."

Another common place you'll hear it is in news reports or health-related television programs. When discussing healthcare reforms, drug prices, or public health crises (like the COVID-19 pandemic), commentators will frequently mention '零售药房' (retail pharmacies) and their role in distributing masks or vaccines. In these contexts, the word carries a weight of public service and safety.

In Television and Movies: In medical dramas (医疗剧), the pharmacy is often a site of tension—where a character might discover a shortage of a life-saving drug or where a pharmacist notices a dangerous drug interaction. It's portrayed as a place of precision and quiet expertise.

You will also hear this word in casual conversation between family members. If someone is feeling unwell, a common suggestion is '我去药房给你买点药' (I'll go to the pharmacy to buy you some medicine). It implies a proactive step toward healing. Furthermore, in the context of traditional Chinese medicine, the '中药房' is a sensory-rich environment where you hear the rhythmic chopping of herbs and the sliding of wooden drawers—a soundscape that is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture.

这家药房的药剂师非常专业。 (Zhè jiā yàofáng de yàojìshī fēicháng zhuānyè.) — The pharmacist at this pharmacy is very professional.

Finally, in the age of e-commerce, you will encounter '网上药房' (online pharmacies). While shopping on platforms like Tmall or JD.com, users will see digital storefronts labeled as pharmacies, emphasizing the shift of this traditional space into the digital realm. Whether physical or digital, the word remains the primary signifier for medical supply.

Learners of Chinese often make several common errors when using 药房. The most frequent mistake is confusing it with 药店 (yàodiàn). While they are synonyms, they are not always interchangeable. Using '药店' when you are inside a hospital sounds unnatural and slightly uneducated in a medical context. Conversely, calling a tiny corner shop that sells mostly snacks and a few painkillers a '药房' might sound overly formal.

Mistake 1: Wrong Measure Word: Students often use the generic '个' (gè) for everything. While '一个药房' is technically understood, '一家药房' (for a business) or '一间药房' (for a room) is much more accurate and native-sounding.

Incorrect: 医院里有一个药店。 (Yīyuàn lǐ yǒu yīgè yàodiàn.)
Correct: 医院里有一间药房。 (Yīyuàn lǐ yǒu yījiàn yàofáng.)

Another common error is the confusion between '取药' (qǔyào - to collect medicine) and '买药' (mǎiyào - to buy medicine). In a hospital 药房, you usually '取药' because you have already paid at a separate counter. In a street-side pharmacy, you '买药'. Mixing these up can lead to confusion when interacting with staff.

Mistake 2: Mispronunciation of '房': Learners sometimes pronounce '房' (fáng) with the wrong tone, confusing it with '放' (fàng - to put). Saying 'yàofàng' instead of 'yàofáng' will definitely confuse a listener, as it sounds like you are saying 'to put medicine'.

Finally, some learners forget that '药房' can be a department within a company. For example, a pharmaceutical company might have a '药房部' (Pharmacy Department). Using the word only to mean 'store' limits your ability to describe professional environments. Avoiding these pitfalls will make your Chinese sound more precise and professional, especially in high-stakes medical situations.

To truly master 药房, one must understand its place within the ecosystem of related terms. The most immediate comparison is with 药店 (yàodiàn). While both sell medicine, 药店 is more commercial. Think of 药店 as a 'drugstore' and 药房 as a 'pharmacy' or 'dispensary'.

Comparison Table

药房 (yàofáng): Professional, institutional, often inside a hospital. Focuses on dispensing prescriptions.
药店 (yàodiàn): Retail-oriented, street-side, sells OTC drugs and health supplements.
药铺 (yàopù): Traditional, often refers to old-style TCM shops. Rare in modern speech except in historical contexts.
诊所 (zhěnsuǒ): A clinic. This is where you see the doctor, but the clinic might have its own small 药房.

比起普通的药店，我更信任这家医院的药房。 (Bǐqǐ pǔtōng de yàodiàn, wǒ gèng xìnrèn zhè jiā yīyuàn de yàofáng.) — Compared to an ordinary drugstore, I trust this hospital's pharmacy more.

Another related term is 配药处 (pèiyàochù), which literally means 'medicine dispensing place.' This is a very specific term used for the counter within a pharmacy where the pharmacist actually mixes or prepares the drugs. You might see this sign above a specific window.

In formal or academic writing, you might encounter 药剂科 (yàojìkē), the 'Pharmacy Department' in a hospital's organizational structure. While '药房' is the room patients go to, '药剂科' is the administrative and clinical department. Understanding these distinctions allows you to navigate the complexities of the Chinese medical system with confidence. Whether you are looking for a simple aspirin or a complex herbal formula, knowing whether to look for a 药房, 药店, or 药铺 is key.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient China, the 'pharmacy' was often a part of a physician's home or a specialized 'pù' (shop). The transition to 'fáng' (room) reflects the institutionalization of medicine.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /jâʊ.fǎŋ/

US /jâʊ.fǎŋ/

The primary stress is on the first syllable 'yào'.

Rhymes With

房 (fáng) rhymes with 忙 (máng), 糖 (táng), 羊 (yáng), 场 (chǎng - partial), 旁 (páng), 强 (qiáng), 凉 (liáng), 娘 (niáng).

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'fáng' as 'fàng' (4th tone), which changes the meaning.
Muffling the 'y' sound in 'yào', making it sound like 'ào'.
Using a flat 1st tone for both syllables.
Confusing the 'ao' sound in 'yào' with 'ou'.
Failing to aspirate the 'f' correctly.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Characters are common but 药 has many strokes.

Writing 3/5

药 (yào) is complex to write correctly for beginners.

Speaking 2/5

Simple pronunciation, but tones must be distinct.

Listening 2/5

Easily recognizable in a hospital context.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

药 (medicine) 房 (room) 医生 (doctor) 医院 (hospital) 买 (buy)

Learn Next

取药 (collect medicine) 处方 (prescription) 药剂师 (pharmacist) 感冒 (cold) 发烧 (fever)

Advanced

药理学 (pharmacology) 医保 (medical insurance) 副作用 (side effect) 剂量 (dosage) 禁忌 (contraindication)

Grammar to Know

Measure Words for Buildings

一家药房 (yī jiā yàofáng)

Directional Complements

走进药房 (zǒu jìn yàofáng - walk into the pharmacy)

Prepositional Phrases with 在

他在药房里等我。 (Tā zài yàofáng lǐ děng wǒ.)

Verb-Object Structures

取药 (qǔ yào - to collect medicine)

Noun Modifiers with 的

药房的医生 (yàofáng de yīshēng - pharmacy's doctor/pharmacist)

Examples by Level

药房在哪儿？

Where is the pharmacy?

Simple question structure: Subject + 在哪儿?

我去药房。

I am going to the pharmacy.

Subject + 去 + Place.

药房在医院里。

The pharmacy is in the hospital.

Location: Subject + 在 + Place + 里.

他在药房工作。

He works in a pharmacy.

Subject + 在 + Place + 工作.

药房有药。

The pharmacy has medicine.

Possession: Subject + 有 + Object.

这里没有药房。

There is no pharmacy here.

Negation: Subject + 没有 + Object.

药房很大。

The pharmacy is big.

Adjective: Subject + 很 + Adjective.

我喜欢这家药房。

I like this pharmacy.

Subject + 喜欢 + Measure word + Noun.

我要去药房买感冒药。

I want to go to the pharmacy to buy cold medicine.

Intention: 要 + 去 + Place + Verb.

这家药房二十四小时营业。

This pharmacy is open 24 hours.

Time phrase: 二十四小时营业 (open 24 hours).

请问，附近有药房吗？

Excuse me, is there a pharmacy nearby?

Existential question: 附近 + 有 + Noun + 吗?

药房在超市旁边。

The pharmacy is next to the supermarket.

Relative location: A + 在 + B + 旁边.

医生让我去药房取药。

The doctor asked me to go to the pharmacy to collect medicine.

Causative: 让 (ràng) - to let/make/ask.

药房的人很多，要排队。

There are many people in the pharmacy; you need to queue.

Condition and action: Subject + 很多 + Action.

这家药房的药很贵。

The medicine in this pharmacy is very expensive.

Attribute: Noun + 的 + Noun.

你可以在药房买到口罩。

You can buy masks at the pharmacy.

Capability: 可以 + 在 + Place + 买到.

如果你有处方，就去那间药房。

If you have a prescription, go to that pharmacy.

Conditional: 如果...就...

这间药房专门卖中药。

This pharmacy specializes in selling Chinese medicine.

Adverb: 专门 (zhuānmén) - specially/specifically.

药房的药剂师会告诉你怎么吃药。

The pharmacy's pharmacist will tell you how to take the medicine.

Future/Probability: 会 (huì) - will.

他在医院药房实习了三个月。

He interned at the hospital pharmacy for three months.

Duration: Verb + 了 + Time period.

药房正在进行药品促销活动。

The pharmacy is having a medicine promotion.

Continuous action: 正在 (zhèngzài).

那家药房的服务态度非常好。

That pharmacy's service attitude is very good.

Compound noun: 服务态度 (service attitude).

我忘记了药房几点关门。

I forgot what time the pharmacy closes.

Embedded question: 几点 (what time).

药房里的药品种类比以前多了。

The variety of medicines in the pharmacy is more than before.

Comparison: A + 比 + B + 多.

由于政策调整，医院药房不再售卖某些药品。

Due to policy adjustments, the hospital pharmacy no longer sells certain medicines.

Formal cause: 由于 (yóuyú) - due to.

这家连锁药房在全国有几百个分店。

This pharmacy chain has hundreds of branches across the country.

Quantity: 几百个 (several hundred).

药房必须严格遵守药品的存储规定。

The pharmacy must strictly abide by medicine storage regulations.

Necessity: 必须 (bìxū) - must.

他负责管理这家药房的库存。

He is responsible for managing this pharmacy's inventory.

Responsibility: 负责 (fùzé) - be responsible for.

在药房购买抗生素需要医生处方。

Buying antibiotics at the pharmacy requires a doctor's prescription.

Requirement: 需要 (xūyào) - need/require.

药房的自动化系统大大提高了配药效率。

The pharmacy's automation system has greatly improved dispensing efficiency.

Adverbial modifier: 大大 (dàdà) - greatly.

这家药房提供免费的血压测量服务。

This pharmacy provides free blood pressure measurement services.

Service offering: 提供 (tígōng) - provide.

药房的执业药师正在为顾客解答疑问。

The pharmacy's licensed pharmacist is answering a customer's questions.

Continuous action: 正在 (zhèngzài).

随着医药分业的推进，社会药房的作用日益凸显。

With the advancement of the separation of prescribing and dispensing, the role of social pharmacies is becoming increasingly prominent.

Formal evolution: 随着...日益... (along with... increasingly...).

药房在突发公共卫生事件中扮演着重要角色。

Pharmacies play an important role in sudden public health events.

Idiomatic expression: 扮演角色 (play a role).

这家药房因其卓越的质量控制而获得行业认证。

This pharmacy received industry certification for its excellent quality control.

Cause and effect: 因...而... (because of... and thus...).

网上药房的崛起对传统实体药房构成了巨大挑战。

The rise of online pharmacies poses a huge challenge to traditional physical pharmacies.

Formal challenge: 构成挑战 (pose a challenge).

药房的布局应当符合药事管理的规范要求。

The layout of the pharmacy should comply with the regulatory requirements of pharmaceutical affairs management.

Formal requirement: 符合 (fúhé) - comply with.

该药房致力于为社区提供全方位的药学服务。

The pharmacy is committed to providing comprehensive pharmaceutical services to the community.

Commitment: 致力于 (zhìlì yú) - be committed to.

药房内部的温湿度监控是确保药品安全的关键。

Monitoring the temperature and humidity inside the pharmacy is key to ensuring drug safety.

Key factor: ...是...的关键.

许多老字号药房依然保留着传统的手工制药技艺。

Many time-honored pharmacies still retain traditional handmade medicine-making techniques.

Retention: 保留 (bǎoliú) - retain/keep.

药房不仅是药品的集散地，更是药学文化传承的载体。

The pharmacy is not only a distribution center for medicines but also a carrier for the inheritance of pharmaceutical culture.

Parallel structure: 不仅是...更是... (not only... but even more...).

探讨药房在现代医疗体系中的伦理责任具有深远意义。

Exploring the ethical responsibilities of pharmacies in the modern medical system is of profound significance.

Abstract discussion: 具有...意义 (has... significance).

药房信息化建设的滞后可能成为制约医疗效率的瓶颈。

The lag in pharmacy informatization construction may become a bottleneck restricting medical efficiency.

Metaphorical usage: 瓶颈 (bottleneck).

这家药房的建筑风格融合了古典与现代的药学美学。

The architectural style of this pharmacy blends classical and modern pharmaceutical aesthetics.

Aesthetic description: 融合 (rónghé) - blend/fuse.

对药房处方审核流程的优化是防范用药风险的核心环节。

Optimizing the pharmacy prescription review process is the core link in preventing medication risks.

Core concept: 核心环节 (core link).

药房的社会功能正从单纯的供给向综合的健康管理转变。

The social function of pharmacies is transforming from simple supply to comprehensive health management.

Transformation: 从...向...转变 (transform from... to...).

中药房里弥漫着苦涩而清新的草本气息，那是时间的味道。

The Chinese medicine pharmacy is filled with a bitter yet fresh herbal scent—that is the smell of time.

Literary description: 弥漫 (mímàn) - to pervade/fill.

在全球化背景下，药房的监管标准正趋于国际化统一。

Under the background of globalization, pharmacy regulatory standards are tending towards international unification.

Tendency: 趋于 (qūyú) - tend towards.

Common Collocations

医院药房

零售药房

24小时药房

网上药房

中药房

西药房

连锁药房

社区药房

临床药房

药房药师

Common Phrases

去药房

— Going to the pharmacy.

我感冒了，得去药房。

药房取药

— Collecting medicine from the pharmacy.

请在窗口等候药房取药。

药房工作

— Working in a pharmacy.

他在药房工作，很懂药。

药房管理

— Pharmacy management.

药房管理需要非常严谨。

药房库存

— Pharmacy inventory.

药房库存已经不足了。

药房服务

— Pharmacy services.

这家药房服务周到。

药房窗口

— Pharmacy window.

请到一号药房窗口。

大型药房

— Large-scale pharmacy.

市中心有一家大型药房。

药房系统

— Pharmacy system (IT).

药房系统出现了故障。

药房值班

— On duty at the pharmacy.

今晚轮到他在药房值班。

Often Confused With

药房 vs 药店

药店 is more for general retail; 药房 is for clinical dispensing.

药房 vs 厨房

Both end in 房, but 厨房 is a kitchen (food) and 药房 is for medicine.

药房 vs 病房

病房 is where patients sleep; 药房 is where medicine is kept.

Idioms & Expressions

"对症下药"

— To suit the medicine to the illness; to take effective measures.

我们必须对症下药才能解决问题。

Common/Figurative

"不可救药"

— Incurable; beyond hope.

他已经到了不可救药的地步。

Common/Metaphorical

"良药苦口"

— Good medicine tastes bitter; frank criticism is hard to swallow but good for you.

良药苦口利于病，忠言逆耳利于行。

Formal/Literary

"药到病除"

— As soon as the medicine is taken, the disease is cured.

这位医生的药真是药到病除。

Praising

"换汤不换药"

— A change in form but not in substance.

这次改革只是换汤不换药。

Critical

"灵丹妙药"

— Miraculous medicine; panacea.

世上没有解决所有问题的灵丹妙药。

Metaphorical

"采药炼丹"

— Gathering herbs and practicing alchemy (historical).

古代道士常在深山采药炼丹。

Historical

"药石无效"

— All medicines and treatments are of no avail.

他病得很重，已经药石无效了。

Formal/Tragic

"以药养医"

— To support medical services with medicine sales (a policy term).

政府正在努力取消以药养医的制度。

Policy/Economic

"卖药郎"

— Traveling medicine seller (historical).

古时候街上常有卖药郎在叫卖。

Historical

Easily Confused

药房 vs 药店

Both mean pharmacy/drugstore.

药店 is a general shop; 药房 is often institutional or more professional.

他在药店买牙刷，在药房取处方药。

药房 vs 药铺

Old term for pharmacy.

药铺 sounds old-fashioned or refers specifically to traditional herb shops.

这间古老的药铺已经开了两百年。

药房 vs 诊所

Both are medical places.

诊所 is where you see a doctor (clinic); 药房 is where you get medicine.

先去诊所看病，再去药房拿药。

药房 vs 医院

Pharmacy is inside a hospital.

医院 is the whole building/institution; 药房 is just one part.

医院里有很多部门，其中一个是药房。

药房 vs 药剂师

Person vs. Place.

药剂师 is the professional (pharmacist); 药房 is the location.

药房里的药剂师正在忙碌。

Sentence Patterns

这是[Place]。

这是药房。

[Subject]在[Place]。

他在药房。

去[Place][Action]。

去药房取药。

[Place]有[Object]吗？

药房有口罩吗？

虽然[A]，但是[B]。

虽然药房很远，但是药很全。

因为[Reason]，所以去药房。

因为我头疼，所以去药房买药。

除了[A]，药房还[B]。

除了卖药，药房还提供咨询。

被动语态: 药被[Subject]从药房拿走了。

药被妈妈从药房拿走了。

Word Family

Nouns

药物 (medicine/drug)

药剂 (pharmaceutical)

药理 (pharmacology)

药效 (efficacy)

Verbs

用药 (to use medicine)

配药 (to dispense)

服药 (to take medicine)

采药 (to gather herbs)

Adjectives

药用的 (medicinal)

药理的 (pharmacological)

医生 (doctor)

护士 (nurse)

病人 (patient)

处方 (prescription)

医院 (hospital)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily life and medical contexts.

Common Mistakes

Using 药店 inside a hospital. → 药房
Institutional settings always use 药房.
Pronouncing 'fáng' as 'fàng'. → yàofáng
Tones change meanings; 'fàng' sounds like 'to put'.
Using '个' as a measure word. → 一家/一间
Using specific measure words sounds more native.
Confusing 药房 with 厨房. → 药房
One is for medicine, one is for cooking.
Thinking all 药房 sell only Western medicine. → Recognize TCM sections.
Many pharmacies are comprehensive in China.

Tips

Herbal Scents

Don't be surprised by the strong smell in a Chinese 药房; it's often the herbal decoctions being prepared.

Keep Your Receipt

In hospital pharmacies, you usually need to show your paid receipt before they give you the medicine.

Character Breakdown

药 (medicine) has 艹 (grass) + 约 (sound). 房 (room) has 户 (door) + 方 (square/direction).

24/7 Access

Look for '24小时' signs for late-night emergencies.

Pharmacist Status

Licensed pharmacists in China are called '执业药师' (zhíyè yàojìshī).

Finding the Room

In large hospitals, look for '取药' (Medicine Collection) signs to find the 药房.

OTC vs Prescription

OTC is '非处方药' (fēi chǔfāng yào), and Prescription is '处方药' (chǔfāng yào).

Queueing

Pharmacies can be very crowded; always find the end of the line and wait patiently.

Chain Stores

Large chains like 'Nepstar' (海王星辰) are reliable and found everywhere.

Check Expiry

Always check the '有效期' (validity period) on the medicine box before leaving.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 药 (yào) as 'Yo!' (I need medicine) and 房 (fáng) as 'Fang' (a room with fangs/shelves). You go to the room with shelves to get your 'Yo' medicine.

Visual Association

Imagine a room (房) filled with green grass (艹) being turned into medicine (药).

Word Web

Medicine Room Hospital Pharmacist Prescription Health Cure Herbs

Challenge

Try to find three signs in your neighborhood that use the character 房 and see if any of them are for a 药房.

Word Origin

The word is a combination of 药 (yào) and 房 (fáng). 药 (medicine) contains the grass radical (艹), indicating its origin from plants and herbs. 房 (room) refers to a building or a specific room within a house.

Original meaning: Originally, it referred to a room where medicinal herbs were stored or prepared.

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

Always be respectful in a hospital 药房; it is a place of serious work and often crowded.

In the West, 'pharmacy' usually refers to a retail shop like CVS or Boots. In China, 药房 specifically points to the hospital dispensary.

The historical pharmacy 'Tong Ren Tang' (同仁堂) in Beijing. Medical dramas like 'The Hospital' (白色巨塔). Traditional stories of herb gatherers like Shennong.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

In a Hospital

取药处在哪？
请出示处方。
药房在几楼？
需要排队吗？

On the Street

附近有药房吗？
这家药房开门吗？
我想买感冒药。
有24小时药房吗？

At Work

他在药房值班。
药房库存清点。
联系药房部。
药房管理系统。

Online Shopping

网上药房下单。
药房配送服务。
查看药品评价。
在线咨询药师。

History/Culture

百年老字号药房。
传统中药房。
药房的变迁。
药房文化。

Conversation Starters

"你通常去哪家药房买药？ (Which pharmacy do you usually go to?)"

"你知道这附近有24小时营业的药房吗？ (Do you know if there's a 24-hour pharmacy nearby?)"

"在你的国家，药房和药店有什么区别？ (In your country, what is the difference between a pharmacy and a drugstore?)"

"你去过中国的中药房吗？感觉怎么样？ (Have you been to a Chinese TCM pharmacy? How was it?)"

"现在的网上药房真的很方便，你用过吗？ (Online pharmacies are very convenient now, have you used them?)"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你去药房取药的经历。 (Describe an experience of going to the pharmacy to collect medicine.)

如果你开一家药房，你会如何设计它的布局？ (If you opened a pharmacy, how would you design its layout?)

讨论一下你认为未来药房会发生什么样的变化。 (Discuss what changes you think will happen to pharmacies in the future.)

对比一下中药房和西药房的不同之处。 (Compare the differences between a TCM pharmacy and a Western pharmacy.)

写一段关于一名药房药剂师日常生活的短文。 (Write a short piece about the daily life of a pharmacy pharmacist.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

In large retail pharmacies (大药房), yes. In a hospital 药房, no, they only dispense medicine.

No, many 药房 in China have both Western and Chinese medicine sections.

For hospital pharmacies, yes. For street-side pharmacies, you can buy OTC drugs without one.

Usually '家' (jiā) for the business or '间' (jiān) for the room.

Yes, in British English, a chemist is the equivalent of a 药房.

It is '网上药房' (wǎngshàng yàofáng).

Most retail ones are, and hospital emergency pharmacies are open 24/7.

No, but it might sound a bit formal. They usually call themselves 药店.

Look for the characters 药 (medicine) or the green cross symbol.

The pharmacist (药剂师) can give advice on how to take medicine, but they are not doctors.