How to Read a Prescription in China as a Foreigner: What the Labels Actually Mean

You just left a Chinese hospital with a prescription slip — and you cannot read a word of it. This happens to almost every foreigner who visits a Chinese doctor, and it causes more confusion than it should.

This guide explains what a Chinese prescription looks like, what the key fields mean, and how to get it filled correctly at a pharmacy. It also covers what to do if you are working with a prescription from abroad.

Who this is for: Foreign travelers or expats who have received a prescription at a Chinese hospital or clinic and need to understand what they have been given.

What a Chinese Prescription Looks Like

A standard Chinese hospital prescription (处方, chǔfāng) is usually a printed or handwritten form from the hospital's pharmacy department. Key differences from Western prescriptions:

Drug names are often in Chinese characters with the generic chemical name (通用名), not a brand name
Dosage is typically written in milligrams or units per dose (每次), times per day (每日), and number of days (共几天)
Chinese and sometimes Latin abbreviations are used for instructions
Oral medications and injectables may be listed together on the same form
A hospital stamp is required for the prescription to be valid at the hospital pharmacy or designated partner pharmacies

Most prescriptions you receive at a public hospital are intended to be filled at that hospital's own pharmacy window, not at a street pharmacy.

The Key Fields to Recognize

| Field (Chinese) | What it means | |---|---| | 姓名 (xìngmíng) | Patient name | | 科室 (kēshì) | Department (e.g., 内科 = internal medicine, 骨科 = orthopedics) | | 诊断 (zhěnduàn) | Diagnosis | | 药品名称 (yàopǐn míngchēng) | Drug name | | 规格 (guīgé) | Specification/strength | | 用法用量 (yòngfǎ yòngliàng) | Dosage instructions — the most important line | | 每次 (měi cì) | Per dose (e.g., 每次2片 = 2 tablets per dose) | | 每日 (měi rì) | Per day (e.g., 每日3次 = 3 times a day) | | 天数 / 共几天 | Number of days' supply | | 饭前 / 饭后 | Before / after meals | | 口服 (kǒufú) | Take orally | | 外用 (wàiyòng) | For external use only | | 注射 (zhùshè) | Injection | | 盖章 (gài zhāng) | Hospital/doctor stamp (required for validity) |

Common Dosage Abbreviations

Chinese prescriptions sometimes include shorthand borrowed from Latin, especially in hospital settings:

| Abbreviation | Meaning | |---|---| | QD or qd | Once daily (每日一次) | | BID or bid | Twice daily (每日两次) | | TID or tid | Three times daily (每日三次) | | QID or qid | Four times daily (每日四次) | | PRN | As needed (按需) | | AC | Before meals (饭前) | | PC | After meals (饭后) | | HS | At bedtime (睡前) |

These abbreviations are used more often in higher-level hospitals with doctors who trained in English-medium programs. Lower-tier hospitals tend to write everything in Chinese.

How to Fill the Prescription

At a Hospital Pharmacy

The most reliable way is to go directly to the hospital pharmacy window (药房 or 药局) on the same floor or ground floor of the outpatient building. Hand over the prescription slip and your payment method (Alipay, WeChat Pay, or cash). The pharmacist prepares the medication, calls a number or name, and hands it over with a paper bag labeled in Chinese.

If the prescription requires hospital payment registration first (挂号 then 缴费), a staff member or nurse usually guides you through this. The sequence is typically: see doctor → get prescription → pay at payment window → collect medication at pharmacy.

At a Street Pharmacy (药店)

Not all street pharmacies will fill hospital prescriptions, and some medications require a hospital-issued stamp to dispense. For common over-the-counter drugs (painkillers, antihistamines, basic antibiotics), street pharmacies work fine. For controlled substances, injectables, or specialty medications, you will need the hospital pharmacy.

Street pharmacies are widespread and identifiable by a green cross sign. Many staff speak no English, but if you show them the prescription or the medication packaging from before, they can usually match it or offer an equivalent.

Checking for Counterfeits

Buy from registered pharmacies only. Look for the green cross sign and a visible pharmaceutical business license (药品经营许可证) displayed at the counter. Stick to chain pharmacies (大参林, 益丰大药房, 健客, 老百姓大药房) when possible — they are more reliable than small independent shops.

If Your Prescription Is in a Foreign Language

Chinese pharmacies cannot fill a foreign-language prescription directly. If you are traveling with a prescription from home and need a refill, the process is:

Have the prescription translated into Chinese (a notarized translation is ideal for controlled substances)
Visit a hospital outpatient clinic (挂号) and see the relevant specialist
The doctor will assess the medication and, if appropriate, issue a new Chinese prescription

For many common medications (antihypertensives, thyroid medications, antihistamines, pain management), this is a same-day process at most Grade 3A hospitals or international clinics. For controlled substances (opioids, benzodiazepines, ADHD medications), the process is more restricted and may not be possible depending on the drug.

If you take a controlled substance regularly: Pack more than you need for the trip. Getting a same-class substitute in China is possible for some categories but not guaranteed, and the timeline can be unpredictable.

Reading Medication Packaging in Chinese

If you have already picked up medication and want to confirm what you have:

说明书 (shuōmíng shū) = package insert. Every medication sold in China must include one. Key fields: 适应症 (indications), 用法用量 (dosage), 不良反应 (side effects), 禁忌 (contraindications).
Use a photo translation app (Microsoft Translator or a downloaded offline translation app) to read the insert. For specialized terminology, results may be imprecise — cross-check with a doctor if uncertain.
批准文号 (pīzhǔn wénhào) = national approval number. Confirm this matches a registered product if you have any doubts about authenticity.

Who Should Ask for More Help

If your situation involves any of these, ask for support before self-managing:

You are managing a chronic condition with a complex medication regimen
You are unsure whether the diagnosis was accurate or fully communicated
You have drug allergies that may not have been properly documented at the visit
Your medications are controlled substances
You are planning longer-term treatment in China and need to coordinate ongoing prescriptions

ChinaEasey can assist with hospital navigation, appointment coordination, and language support throughout the care process — including helping ensure your medication history is properly communicated to Chinese doctors.

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