Pharmacy & Health

1. 有頭殼疼的藥無？

   Ū thâu-khak thiànn ê io̍h bô?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a pharmacy in Taiwan

   Grammar Note

   Taiwanese Min Nan often uses "bô" at the end for questions. "Thâu-khak" means "head"

2. 我需要胃藥

   Guá su-iàu uī-io̍h

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   Taiwanese Min Nan shares Chinese characters but has very different pronunciation. "Guá" (I) differs from Mandarin "wǒ"

3. 我需要止瀉藥

   Guá su-iàu tsí-sià-io̍h

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Tsí-sià-io̍h" = "medicine to stop diarrhea". "Sià" means diarrhea in Min Nan

4. 我發燒矣

   Guá huat-sio ah

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Huat-sio" means "having a fever". "Sio" means "hot" in Taiwanese Min Nan

5. 我有過敏

   Guá ū kuè-bín

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Kuè-bín" means "overly sensitive", used for allergy in Min Nan

6. 我需要OK繃

   Guá su-iàu OK-pīng

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   In Taiwan, band-aids are commonly called "OK繃 (OK-pīng)" — a blend of English "OK" and "band"

7. 我需要防蠓噴霧

   Guá su-iàu hông-báng phùn-bū

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Hông-báng" means "mosquito prevention". Min Nan pronunciation differs greatly from Mandarin

8. 我需要防曬乳

   Guá su-iàu hông-sài-jú

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Hông-sài" means "sun protection". "Jú" (乳) means lotion/cream

9. 這藥按怎食？

   Tsit io̍h án-tsuánn tsia̍h?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   Taiwanese uses "tsiah" (eat) for taking medicine. Mandarin also says "chī yào" (eat medicine)

10. 需要處方箋無？

    Su-iàu tshú-hong-tsinn bô?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Tshú-hong-tsinn" means "prescription paper". "Bô" is the Min Nan question particle

11. 藥房

    Io̍h-pâng

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where a pharmacy is

12. 藥單

    Io̍h-tuann

    Prescription

    Usage

    Use to ask whether a prescription is needed, or to present one

13. 退燒藥

    Thè-sio-io̍h

    Fever reducer

    Usage

    Point at it when asking a pharmacy for something to bring a fever down

14. 衛生棉

    Uē-sing-mî

    Sanitary pads

    Usage

    Point at it when buying from a pharmacy or convenience store

15. 保險套

    Pó-hiám-thò

    Condom

    Usage

    Point at it when buying from a pharmacy or convenience store

16. 我需要瀉藥仔

    Guá su-iàu sià-io̍h-á

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Use at a pharmacy when constipated. 瀉藥仔 means a medicine that induces diarrhea after taking it, mainly for constipation

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