非处方药 Over-the-Counter Help

By the end of this module you can…

• Ask who it’s for, their age, the symptoms and how long.
• Suggest a fitting over-the-counter option, with its dose and limits.
• Explain why a cold doesn’t need antibiotics (消炎药).
• Catch hidden duplicates, like acetaminophen in two products.
• Say which signs mean a doctor, the emergency room or 911.

Key vocabulary

Fourteen words from this module. Tap the speaker to hear each one.

Symptoms

• 感冒gǎn màoA cold
• 发烧fā shāoFever
• 咳嗽ké souCough
• 流鼻涕liú bí tìRunny nose
• 鼻塞bí sèStuffy nose
• 嗓子疼sǎng zi téngSore throat
• 头疼tóu téngHeadache
• 打喷嚏dǎ pēn tìTo sneeze

On the shelf

• 止痛药zhǐ tòng yàoPainkiller
• 退烧药tuì shāo yàoFever reducer
• 感冒药gǎn mào yàoCold medicine
• 止咳药zhǐ ké yàoCough medicine
• 抗过敏药kàng guò mǐn yàoAllergy medicine
• 胃药wèi yàoStomach medicine, antacid

Ten core phrases

The lines from this module’s take-home phrase sheet. In the course you can print them on one page for your pocket.

1. 是给谁用的？多大了？Shì gěi shéi yòng de? Duō dà le?Who is it for, and how old are they?
2. 有什么症状？多久了？Yǒu shén me zhèng zhuàng? Duō jiǔ le?What symptoms, and for how long?
3. 已经吃了什么药？Yǐ jīng chī le shén me yào?What have you taken already?
4. 感冒是病毒引起的，抗生素没有用。Gǎn mào shì bìng dú yǐn qǐ de, kàng shēng sù méi yǒu yòng.Colds are viral; antibiotics won’t help.
5. 抗生素要有处方才能拿。Kàng shēng sù yào yǒu chǔ fāng cái néng ná.Antibiotics need a prescription.
6. 感冒药里很多都有对乙酰氨基酚，不要跟泰诺一起吃。Gǎn mào yào lǐ hěn duō dōu yǒu duì yǐ xiān ān jī fēn, bú yào gēn Tài nuò yì qǐ chī.Many cold medicines contain acetaminophen: not with Tylenol.
7. 布洛芬要跟饭一起吃。Bù luò fēn yào gēn fàn yì qǐ chī.Take ibuprofen with food.
8. 孩子的药一般按体重算，别自己拿大人的药给孩子吃。Hái zi de yào yì bān àn tǐ zhòng suàn, bié zì jǐ ná dà rén de yào gěi hái zi chī.Children’s doses usually go by weight: no adult medicine on your own.
9. 发烧超过三天，要去看医生。Fā shāo chāo guò sān tiān, yào qù kàn yī shēng.A fever over three days needs a doctor.
10. 呼吸困难，或者胸口痛、发闷，马上打911，别自己开车。Hū xī kùn nan, huò zhě xiōng kǒu tòng, fā mèn, mǎ shàng dǎ jiǔ yāo yāo, bié zì jǐ kāi chē.Trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure: call 911. Don’t drive.

What’s in Module 8

1. Part 1 · Warm-UpWarm-Up: Colds and Home Remedies
2. Part 2 · The Words for Everyday ProblemsReading the Pinyin · Saying 消炎药 vs. Writing 抗生素 · Vocabulary · Flash Cards · Six Common Complaints
3. Part 3 · Ask First, Then HelpThe Counter Script · Five Questions Before Any Suggestion · Key Patterns · Children and Older Adults · Why Not Antibiotics · Doses and Limits
4. Part 4 · Safety and ReferralWhen to See a Doctor · Pregnancy, Blood Pressure and Blood Thinners · Help Here, or See a Doctor?
5. Part 5 · Concerns & the ShelfWhat Customers Say · Finding It on the Shelf · Reading the Box
6. Part 6 · Role-PlayRound 1 · Guided Conversation · Round 2 · Controlled Practice · Rounds 3, 4 & 5 · Independent
7. Part 7 · Knowledge CheckModule 8 Knowledge Check
8. Part 8 · Wrap-UpModule 8 Homework · Take-Home Phrase Sheet · Module 8 Wrap-Up · 下次见