About
The character 药 is composed of the grass radical 艹 on top, placing it firmly within the category of plants and herbal materials. Its traditional form 藥 combines this radical with 樂, a component related to music and joy that serves as a phonetic element while hinting at the soothing properties of medicinal plants. The core meaning refers to medicinal herbs used for treatment, a concept that gradually expanded to encompass all forms of medicine, pharmaceuticals, and drugs regardless of origin. The simplified structure replaces the complex 樂 with the simpler character 约, significantly reducing strokes while retaining the essential grass radical that signals its connection to healing substances.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
药已经吃完了。
请你按时吃这种药。
这个药方的效果很好。
中药和西药各有优势。
这家药店的营业时间很长。
滥用药物会导致健康问题。
新药的研发需要大量资金。
这种农药对环境的危害很大。