substance used for a specific purpose (e.g. poisoning, explosion, fermenting)
HSK 2, n, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #674, Easy
药
yào
to poison
HSK 2, n, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #674, Easy
药
yào
drugs, medicine; the leaf of the Dahurian angelica plant
HSK 2, n, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #674, Easy
yào(yao4)yao T4
1leaf of the iris
2medicine
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March 24, 2026
药(葯)yào(yao4)
The character 药 (yào) primarily means 'medicine' or 'drug' and refers to substances used for healing or treatment. It can also denote various types of herbal remedies, poisons, or substances with specific purposes in contexts like cooking or chemistry. This word is commonly used in medical settings, traditional Chinese medicine, and discussions about health.
Strokes9Radical艹Frequency#674DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, traditional medicine plays a significant role, and the concept of 药 encompasses not just modern pharmaceuticals, but also centuries-old herbal practices. Visiting a 中医 (zhōngyī - traditional Chinese doctor) is common for health issues, reflecting the cultural importance of medicinal plants.
Memory Tip
Imagine a leaf (the '艹' radical) that holds powerful healing properties, like a magic herb in a fantasy story. The character 药 looks like a person (the '月' radical) holding that leaf, symbolizing the idea that a person uses medicine to heal or help others. This connection helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation (yào).
Meanings of 药
yào(yao4)
1leaf of the iris
2medicine
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 药 means.
About 药
药Simplified
葯Traditional
9Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#674Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 药
Podcast: 药
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AI Study Notes for 药
Quick Contrast
药 (yào) vs 药品 (yàopǐn) — use 药 for general terms or substances, while 药品 specifically refers to pharmaceutical products.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 药, as it is pronounced with a fourth tone (yào), which denotes a sharp, descending pitch. Common collocations include 药品 (yàopǐn - medicine products) and 中药 (zhōngyào - traditional Chinese medicine). A frequent mistake is to confuse 药 with the similar-sounding 友 (yǒu - friend), which has a completely different meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 药 connects well with other health-related vocabulary like 病 (bìng - illness) and 医院 (yīyuàn - hospital). Focus on using it in sentences related to health and wellness, as this will reinforce its meaning and context.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 药 (yào) with 医 (yī - doctor) due to their related meanings in health contexts. A wrong example would be saying '我去药看' instead of '我去看医生' (Wǒ qù kàn yīshēng - I am going to see a doctor).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 药
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How Well Do You Know 药?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 药 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
药 = 艹 + 约. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 药
IDS Structure⿱艹约
药Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
约yao1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 药?
How to say leaf of the iris in Chinese
“leaf of the iris” in Chinese is药yào
The character 药 (yào) primarily means 'medicine' or 'drug' and refers to substances used for healing or treatment. It can also denote various types of herbal remedies, poisons, or substances with specific purposes in contexts like cooking or chemistry. This word is commonly used in medical settings, traditional Chinese medicine, and discussions about health.
When to use 药
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 药, as it is pronounced with a fourth tone (yào), which denotes a sharp, descending pitch. Common collocations include 药品 (yàopǐn - medicine products) and 中药 (zhōngyào - traditional Chinese medicine). A frequent mistake is to confuse 药 with the similar-sounding 友 (yǒu - friend), which has a completely different meaning.
药 or something close to it
药 (yào) vs 药品 (yàopǐn) — use 药 for general terms or substances, while 药品 specifically refers to pharmaceutical products.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 药 (yào) with 医 (yī - doctor) due to their related meanings in health contexts. A wrong example would be saying '我去药看' instead of '我去看医生' (Wǒ qù kàn yīshēng - I am going to see a doctor).
Write 药
药
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Practice writing 药 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 药
药 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
