Latest / Learn Japanese with Fexingo / Japanese Pharmacy - Asking for Medicine
Transcript
- Lucas: Okay Luna, welcome back to Learn Japanese with Fexingo! Episode 184 already — that's fantastic. Luna: Yeah, I can't believe it! I've learned so much. So, what are we tackling today? Lucas: We're staying at the pharmacy. Last time we learned how to describe pain. Today let's learn how to actually ask for medicine for specific symptoms. Luna: Oh good, because in Episode 183 I learned to say 'atama ga itai' but I didn't know how to say 'give me something for it'. Lucas: Exactly! So let's start with the most common reason people go to a pharmacy: you caught a cold. In Japanese, 'I caught a cold' is 'kaze o hikimashita'. Listen: 風邪をひきました. Luna: 風邪をひきました. Lucas: Perfect! Now, if you have a cold, you'll want to ask for cold medicine. That's 'kaze kusuri o kudasai' — 風邪薬をください. Luna: 風邪薬をください. So 'kaze kusuri' is cold medicine? Lucas: Right. 'Kusuri' is medicine. So cold medicine is 'kaze kusuri'. Let's put it together. You walk in and say: 'Sumimasen, kaze o hikimashita. Kaze kusuri o kudasai.' Listen: すみません、風邪をひきました。風邪薬をください. Luna: すみません、風邪をひきました。風邪薬をください. That's a full sentence! I can say that. Lucas: Totally! Now, what if you have a fever? 'I have a fever' is 'netsu ga arimasu' — 熱があります. Luna: 熱があります. Lucas: And for a headache: 'zutsuu ga arimasu' — 頭痛があります. Luna: 頭痛があります. Wait, 'atama ga itai' means 'my head hurts', and 'zutsuu ga arimasu' means 'I have a headache'? Lucas: Exactly. 'Zutsuu' is the noun 'headache'. So you can say 'zutsuu ga arimasu' to mean you have a headache. Both are fine, but 'zutsuu ga arimasu' is a bit more specific. Luna: Got it. So if I have a headache, I can say 'zutsuu ga arimasu, kaze kusuri o kudasai'? Lucas: Yes, but actually, headache medicine is different. You might want 'zutsuu kusuri' — headache medicine. But let's stick with cold medicine for now. Most cold medicines also help with headaches. Luna: Okay. So my go-to phrase: 'Kaze o hikimashita. Kaze kusuri o kudasai.' Lucas: Right. And if you have a stomachache, you can ask for stomach medicine: 'i kusuri o kudasai' — 胃薬をください. Luna: 胃薬をください. 'I' is stomach? Lucas: Yes, 'i' means stomach. So 'i kusuri' is stomach medicine. Let's do a little practice dialogue. I'll be the pharmacist, you be the customer. Luna: Okay! Lucas: I'll say: 'Irasshaimase. Dō nasaimashita ka?' — Welcome, how can I help you? Luna: Hmm, I'll say: 'Kaze o hikimashita. Kaze kusuri o kudasai.' Lucas: That was perfect! Then I would say: 'Kashikomarimashita. Kochira no kusuri wa ikaga desu ka?' — Certainly, how about this medicine? And you can nod and say 'Hai, onegai shimasu' — Yes, please. Luna: Hai, onegai shimasu. Simple! So I think I'm ready for a real pharmacy now. Lucas: You are! But remember, always check the dosage with the pharmacist. You can ask 'Nanjikan goto ni nomimasu ka?' — How often should I take it? But that's for another day. Luna: Right, one step at a time. For now, I can say I have a cold and ask for cold medicine. Lucas: Exactly. And if Fexingo has been helping you make actual progress with Japanese, honestly, if today was worth a coffee to you, that's the link — buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It keeps us ad-free and focused on teaching. Luna: Yeah, we really appreciate it! Every bit helps us keep making these episodes. Lucas: So let's review our phrases one more time. First: 風邪をひきました. Luna: 風邪をひきました. Lucas: 風邪薬をください. Luna: 風邪薬をください. Lucas: 熱があります. Luna: 熱があります. Lucas: 頭痛があります. Luna: 頭痛があります. Lucas: And 胃薬をください. Luna: 胃薬をください. Lucas: Great job! Practice these, and next time you're at a pharmacy in Japan, you'll be ready. See you next episode! Luna: Thanks, Lucas! Bye everyone!