处方

• Pinyin: chǔ fāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 处 = 夂 (go) + 几 (small table) = to dwell, to handle; 方 = pictograph of a raft or method

Meaning

Prescription; to write a prescription. A medical document authorizing medication.

Used in medical contexts for doctor-issued prescriptions. As a verb, means to prescribe medication. 处方药 refers to prescription drugs (as opposed to over-the-counter medicine). Common in hospitals and pharmacies.

Examples

1. 医生给他开了一张治疗高血压的处方。 The doctor wrote him a prescription for treating high blood pressure.
2. 这种药是处方药，必须凭处方才能购买。 This medicine is a prescription drug and can only be purchased with a prescription.
3. 中医师根据病人的体质处方用药。 The traditional Chinese medicine practitioner prescribes medication based on the patient's constitution.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, pharmacy, healthcare

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请把处方给药剂师，他会帮你配药。(Please give the prescription to the pharmacist, who will prepare your medication.)
• 这是电子处方，可以直接在手机上查看。(This is an electronic prescription that you can view directly on your phone.)

Don't Say

• 我自己处方一点感冒药 (Only licensed doctors can 处方 — for buying medicine yourself, use 买 or 拿)

Origin & History

Compound of 处 (to handle, to manage) and 方 (formula, prescription). Originally referred to formulas for preparing medicine.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal