止咳糖浆
zhǐké tángjiāng
The English phrase "cough syrup" is translated into Mandarin as 止咳糖浆 (zhǐké tángjiāng).
This term refers to a liquid used to ease a sore throat.
Meaning: liquid used to ease a sore throat (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 止咳 (zhǐké), meaning 'stop cough' and 糖浆 (tángjiāng), meaning 'syrup'.
Which one should you use?
In casual conversation, people often substitute 糖浆 (tángjiāng, syrup) with 水 (shuǐ, water) to say 止咳水 (zhǐké shuǐ), meaning 'cough medicine/liquid'.
How do you pronounce it?
zhǐké tángjiāng
Did you know?
- In Traditional Chinese Medicine, some liquids used for 止咳 (zhǐké) are designed to 'clear heat' from the lungs rather than simply suppressing the cough reflex.
- The character 浆 (jiāng) used in syrup is the same one used in 浆糊 (jiānghú), the word for 'paste' or 'glue'.
- The character 止 (zhǐ) in 止咳 (zhǐké) is also used on signs as 止步 (zhǐbù), which is a polite way to tell someone 'do not enter'.
Examples in context
- 这种止咳糖浆味道很甜。zhè zhǒng zhǐké tángjiāng wèidào hěn tián.This cough syrup tastes very sweet.
- 我需要买一瓶止咳糖浆。wǒ xūyào mǎi yī píng zhǐké tángjiāng.I need to buy a bottle of cough syrup.
- 医生建议喝点止咳糖浆。yīshēng jiànyì hē diǎn zhǐké tángjiāng.The doctor suggested drinking some cough syrup.
Example conversation
Junjie is feeling unwell at home and Xinyi is helping him.
- 欣怡 Xinyi俊杰，你还在咳嗽吗？jùnjié, nǐ hái zài késou ma?Junjie, are you still coughing?
- 俊杰 Junjie是啊，喉咙很痛。shì a, hóulóng hěn tòng.Yes, my throat hurts a lot.
- 欣怡 Xinyi家里还有止咳糖浆吗？jiālǐ hái yǒu zhǐké tángjiāng ma?Is there any cough syrup left at home?
- 俊杰 Junjie好像没有了，我去买一瓶。hǎoxiàng méiyǒu le, wǒ qù mǎi yī píng.It seems we're out, I'll go buy a bottle.
