中医

• Pinyin: zhōng yī
• Hanzi breakdown: 中 = 'Chinese/middle'; 医 = simplified from 醫, originally depicting medicine and wine

Meaning

Traditional Chinese Medicine; a doctor of Chinese medicine. The traditional medical system of China.

Refers both to the medical system (including herbal medicine, acupuncture, etc.) and to a practitioner of this system. Contrasts with 西医 (Western medicine/doctor).

Examples

1. 我奶奶喜欢看中医。 My grandma likes seeing a Chinese medicine doctor.
2. 中医用中药治病。 Chinese medicine uses herbal remedies to treat illness.
3. 这位中医很有名。 This Chinese medicine doctor is very famous.

Usage Guide

Context: health, culture

Tone: informational

Do Say

• 你看过中医吗？(Have you ever seen a Chinese medicine doctor?)
• 中医和西医不一样。(Chinese medicine and Western medicine are different.)

Don't Say

• 中医给我开了西药。(This sounds contradictory — a 中医 doctor typically prescribes 中药 (Chinese medicine), not 西药 (Western medicine).)

Origin & History

Compound of 中 (Chinese) and 医 (medicine/doctor), literally 'Chinese medicine.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal