In Chinese culture, the act of “开药” is central to the experience of seeing a doctor (看病, kànbìng). The doctor holds a position of significant authority, and their decision to prescribe medicine is the expected outcome of a consultation. A key difference from many Western systems is the integration of services. In the US, you typically see a doctor, receive a paper prescription, and then go to a separate pharmacy (like a CVS or Walgreens) to have it filled. In China, the process is often much more streamlined. You will see the doctor, who will 开药, and you'll then go to the hospital's or clinic's own pharmacy (药房, yàofáng), often just a few steps away, to pay for and collect your medicine immediately. Furthermore, “开药” applies to both Western medicine (西药, xīyào) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) (中药, zhōngyào). A TCM doctor might 开药 in the form of a complex herbal formula that needs to be boiled, highlighting the term's versatility across different medical philosophies prevalent in China. The expectation is that the doctor provides a tangible solution, and that solution is almost always medicine.
“开药” is one of the most common phrases you'll hear and use in any medical setting in China.
This is the most common context. You describe your symptoms, and the doctor will almost certainly conclude the visit by saying they will prescribe you some medicine.
Patient: 医生，我头疼，还发烧。 (Yīshēng, wǒ tóu téng, hái fāshāo.) - “Doctor, I have a headache and a fever.”
Doctor: 好的，我给你开点药。 (Hǎo de, wǒ gěi nǐ kāi diǎn yào.) - “Okay, I will prescribe you some medicine.”
In a broader, metaphorical sense, “开药” can mean “to prescribe a solution” for a problem, much like its English equivalent. The noun form 药方 (yàofāng - prescription) is often used in this context.
For a struggling company, a consultant might say:
我们必须找到问题的根源，才能对症开药。
(Wǒmen bìxū zhǎodào wèntí de gēnyuán, cáinéng duìzhèngkāiyào.)
“We must find the root of the problem before we can prescribe the right solution.” (Literally: “prescribe medicine for the symptom”).
The most common mistake for English speakers is to confuse “开药 (kāi yào)” with “给药 (gěi yào)”.
Incorrect Usage:
`*` 我头疼，所以我朋友给我开药。
`*` (Wǒ tóuténg, suǒyǐ wǒ péngyou gěi wǒ kāi yào.)
Why it's wrong: Unless your friend is a doctor, they cannot “prescribe” medicine. This implies they made a medical diagnosis and officially issued a prescription.
Correct Usage:
我头疼，所以我朋友给了我一些止痛药。
(Wǒ tóuténg, suǒyǐ wǒ péngyou gěi le wǒ yīxiē zhǐtòng yào.)
“I had a headache, so my friend gave me some painkillers.”
Essentially, never use “开药” unless a qualified medical professional is the one performing the action.