Yaksu in North Korea, near the border with Liaoning and Jiling province
HSK 2, unknown, rank #14834, Medium
药水
yàoshuǐ
lotion
HSK 2, unknown, rank #14834, Medium
yàoshuǐ(yao4shui3) T4
1bottled medicine
2Yaksu in North Korea, near the border with Liaoning and Jiling province
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March 24, 2026
药水(藥水)yàoshuǐ(yao4shui3)
药水 (yào shuǐ) translates to 'medicine' or 'lotion' and specifically refers to a liquid preparation used for medical purposes. It is commonly used in both everyday contexts, like referring to cough syrup, and in medical settings for various treatments. The term can also imply cosmetic or topical solutions that contain medicinal properties.
Frequency#14834DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, traditional medicine often includes various liquid remedies, and pharmacies may have a wide array of 药水 for specific ailments, reflecting the importance of health in daily life. This is particularly relevant during seasons when colds and flu are common.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bottle of blue medicine (水 means 'water') that you take when you're feeling sick. The '药' (yào) character looks like a person taking care of someone who is ill, connecting the form to the meaning of medicine.
Meanings of 药水
yàoshuǐ(yao4shui3)
1bottled medicine
2Yaksu in North Korea, near the border with Liaoning and Jiling province
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About 药水
药水Simplified
藥水Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1BCT✓CEFRA1
Podcast: 药水
Podcast: 药水
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AI Study Notes for 药水
Quick Contrast
药剂 (yàojì) - use 药水 when referring to a liquid medicine, while 药剂 typically refers to a medicinal agent in any form, not specifically liquid.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a bottle of blue medicine (水 means 'water') that you take when you're feeling sick. The '药' (yào) character looks like a person taking care of someone who is ill, connecting the form to the meaning of medicine.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 药水 with 药 (yào), which means 'medicine' in a broader sense without specifying it is liquid. This term is more informal, so it might not be suitable for formal medical contexts. Common collocations include '止咳药水' (cough syrup) or '消毒药水' (disinfectant liquid).
HSK Study Tips
Although 药水 may not appear in the HSK vocabulary lists, students at HSK 3 and above should familiarize themselves with terms related to health and medicine. Focus on pronunciation and the component characters, especially 药, as they often appear in other related words.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, traditional medicine often includes various liquid remedies, and pharmacies may have a wide array of 药水 for specific ailments, reflecting the importance of health in daily life. This is particularly relevant during seasons when colds and flu are common.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 药水 to refer to all types of medicine. For example, saying '我需要药水' when referring to needing pills instead of liquid medicine is incorrect. The correct term for general medicine would be 药.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 药水
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Cultural Notes for 药水
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, traditional medicine often includes various liquid remedies, and pharmacies may have a wide array of 药水 for specific ailments, reflecting the importance of health in daily life. This is particularly relevant during seasons when colds and flu are common.
Frequently Asked Questions about 药水
药水 specifically refers to liquid medicine, whereas 药 can refer to medicine in any form, including pills and powders.
Yes, 药水 can refer to lotions or topical treatments that have medicinal properties for skin ailments.
药水 is generally considered informal, so it may not be suitable for official medical documents or discussions.
