你哪里不舒服？
nǐ nǎlǐ bù shūfu?
What hurts you?
How to say "I need headache medicine" in Chinese
我要头疼药。
wǒ yào tóuténg yào
I need headache medicine
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
The phrase is 我 (I) + 要 (need) + 头疼药 (headache medicine). 头疼 means headache, and 药 means medicine. It's a simple noun phrase after 要.
Variations and politeness
我想要头疼药
wǒ xiǎng yào tóuténg yào
I would like headache medicine. — More polite because of 想要 (would like).
给我头疼药
gěi wǒ tóuténg yào
Give me headache medicine. — More direct and colloquial.
Mini dialogue
A
你好，我头疼。
nǐ hǎo, wǒ tóuténg.
Hello, I have a headache.
B
你需要什么药？
nǐ xūyào shénme yào?
What medicine do you need?
A
我要头疼药。
wǒ yào tóuténg yào.
I need headache medicine.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you are at a pharmacy or doctor's office and need to ask for headache medicine.
- When you want to be direct and clear about what you need.
Avoid when
- When you are in a formal setting or speaking to someone you don't know well; a more polite form like 我想要头疼药 is better.
- When you are not sure if the person is a pharmacist or doctor; in China, you usually ask for medicine at a pharmacy counter, not from a random person.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'I need headache medicine' in Chinese?
You can say 'wǒ yào tóuténg yào' (我要头疼药). It literally means 'I need headache medicine'.
How do you pronounce 'wǒ yào tóuténg yào'?
It's pronounced 'wǒ yào tóuténg yào' with the tones: wǒ (3rd tone), yào (4th tone), tóu (2nd tone), téng (2nd tone), yào (4th tone).
When do you use 'wǒ yào tóuténg yào'?
Use it when you are at a pharmacy or doctor's office and need to ask for headache medicine. It's a direct and clear way to state your need.
More phrases for this situation
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