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胶囊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
胶囊jiāonángcapsule (pharm.)HSK 7, unknown, 32 strokes, rank #16382, Very Hard
胶囊jiāonángcapletHSK 7, unknown, 32 strokes, rank #16382, Very Hard
jiāonáng(jiao1nang2)jiao nang T1
  1. 1capsule (pharm.)
  2. 2caplet
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March 24, 2026

胶囊(膠囊)jiāonáng(jiao1nang2)

胶囊 (jiāonáng) refers to a capsule used in pharmaceuticals, typically for containing medication in a digestible form. It is commonly used in both traditional and modern medicine to facilitate the delivery of active ingredients in a controlled manner.

Strokes32Frequency#16382DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese medicine, capsules are often preferred for herbal remedies to mask the taste of bitter ingredients, reflecting a cultural emphasis on holistic health and palatability.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'jelly (胶) filled with a 'nang (囊) of medicine.' The shape of the jelly resembles a capsule, and the sound of 'nang' can remind you of 'slinging' it back with water, just like taking a medicine capsule.

Meanings of 胶囊

jiāonáng(jiao1nang2)
1capsule (pharm.)
2caplet
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 胶囊

胶囊Simplified
膠囊Traditional
32Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 胶囊

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Podcast: 胶囊

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AI study notes for 胶囊

Quick Contrast

胶囊 (jiāonáng) vs 药片 (yàopiàn) — use 胶囊 for encapsulated forms of medication, while 药片 refers specifically to tablets.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 胶囊 with other forms of medication like tablets (片) or powders (粉). In formal contexts, such as medical discussions, ensure you use the term accurately to maintain professionalism.

HSK Study Tips

While 胶囊 is not a standard HSK word, it can be related to other HSK vocabulary in health and medicine topics. Students should focus on understanding the context of medical terminology to enhance their learning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 胶囊 with 片 (tablet) due to their similar functions; for example, saying '我吃了一个胶囊' when they mean '我吃了一个片' (tablet). It’s important to specify the correct term to convey the right meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 胶囊

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Component characters

胶jiāoto glue
10 strokes⺼
View full entry
囊nángbag, purse, sack; to pocket, to stow
22 strokes口
View full entry

How to say capsule (pharm.) in Chinese

“capsule (pharm.)” in Chinese is胶囊jiāonáng

胶囊 (jiāonáng) refers to a capsule used in pharmaceuticals, typically for containing medication in a digestible form. It is commonly used in both traditional and modern medicine to facilitate the delivery of active ingredients in a controlled manner.

When to use 胶囊

Be careful not to confuse 胶囊 with other forms of medication like tablets (片) or powders (粉). In formal contexts, such as medical discussions, ensure you use the term accurately to maintain professionalism.

胶囊 or something close to it

胶囊 (jiāonáng) vs 药片 (yàopiàn) — use 胶囊 for encapsulated forms of medication, while 药片 refers specifically to tablets.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 胶囊 with 片 (tablet) due to their similar functions; for example, saying '我吃了一个胶囊' when they mean '我吃了一个片' (tablet). It’s important to specify the correct term to convey the right meaning.

Write 胶囊

胶
囊

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Frequently asked questions about 胶囊

胶囊 typically contains both Western pharmaceuticals and traditional Chinese herbal remedies.

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