Mandarin readings / Beginner 2 / Health & The Body

Buying Medicine at the Pharmacy

在药店买药

小林 最近 感冒 了，他 喉咙 痛，咳嗽，还 有点 发烧。下午 下班 以后，他 去 了 附近 的 药店，想 买 合适 的 药品。店里 很 明亮，架子 上 摆着 各种 感冒药、止咳药 和 体温计。他 感到 有点 紧张，因为 不太 清楚 应该 选 哪一种。 店员 微笑 着 问 他 哪里 不舒服。他 说 自从 昨天 晚上 开始，就 一直 打喷嚏，喉咙 干，还有 咳嗽，有少量 痰，但是 食欲 还 可以。店员 说 可以 尝试 一种 温和 的 感冒药，还有 止咳片，并且 建议 多 喝 温水，早点 休息。 小林 拿 起 盒子，看 了 说明书。他 认真 阅读 成分 和 用法，然后 问 需要 空腹 吃 吗？店员 回答 饭后 服用 更 好，还 说 如果 头疼 加重，可以 配 合 退烧药。小林 又 问 有没有 更 实惠 的 选择，店员 指向 旁边 的 通用药，价格 较 低，但是 效果 相似。 最后 他 买 了 感冒药 和 止咳片，还 选 了 一支 体温计。店员 贴心 提醒 按 时 按 量 吃，不要 和 酒 一起 用，避免 开车。回家 以后，小林 先 喝 温水，再 按照 说明 服用 药物，然后 洗澡 休息。第二天 早上，他 觉得 喉咙 不那么 痛 了，咳嗽 也 减少。他 决定 继续 观察，如果 三天 后 还 不好，就 去 看 医生。

English Translation

Xiaolin recently caught a cold. His throat hurt, he coughed, and he had a slight fever. After work in the afternoon, he went to a nearby pharmacy to buy suitable medicine. The shop was bright; on the shelves there were various cold medicines, cough medicines, and thermometers. He felt a bit nervous because he was not sure which one to choose. The clerk smiled and asked where he felt uncomfortable. He said that since last night he had kept sneezing, his throat was dry, and he was coughing with a small amount of phlegm, but his appetite was still okay. The clerk said he could try a mild cold medicine and some cough tablets, and also advised him to drink warm water and rest early. Xiaolin picked up the box and looked at the instructions. He carefully read the ingredients and usage, then asked if he needed to take it on an empty stomach. The clerk replied that taking it after meals was better, and said that if the headache got worse, he could use fever medicine together. Xiaolin asked again if there was a more affordable option; the clerk pointed to the generic medicine nearby, which had a lower price but similar effect. In the end he bought the cold medicine and the cough tablets, and also chose a thermometer. The clerk kindly reminded him to take the medicine on time and in the right amount, not to use it with alcohol, and to avoid driving. After going home, Xiaolin first drank warm water, then took the medicine according to the instructions, and then bathed and rested. The next morning, he felt his throat was less painful, and the cough had also reduced. He decided to keep watching; if after three days he was still not better, he would go to see a doctor.