jìliàng: 剂量 - Dose, Dosage

• Keywords: jiliang, 剂量, dose in Chinese, dosage Chinese, medicine dose Chinese, Chinese for dosage, prescription in Chinese, how to say dose in Chinese, jiliang meaning
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 剂量 (jìliàng), which means “dose” or “dosage.” This term is crucial for navigating medical situations in China, from understanding a doctor's prescription to reading medicine labels. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage with clear examples to ensure you can discuss health and medicine with confidence.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jìliàng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The specific, measured quantity of a medicine, drug, or other agent to be administered.
• In a Nutshell: 剂量 (jìliàng) is the formal, scientific word for “dose.” Think of it as the precise amount—in milligrams, milliliters, or number of pills—that a doctor or a pharmacist has determined is safe and effective. It's not a casual “amount”; it's a calculated quantity you'll find on prescriptions and in medical discussions.

• 剂 (jì): This character is strongly associated with medicine and chemical preparations. The left side is the water radical (氵), often found in characters related to liquids. The right side (齐 qí) provides the sound and means “uniform” or “even.” Together, they suggest a carefully prepared, measured medicinal substance, often in liquid form.
• 量 (liàng): This character simply means “quantity,” “amount,” or “to measure.”
• How they combine: The characters form a very logical and transparent word: 剂 (a medicinal preparation) + 量 (quantity) = 剂量 (the quantity of a medicinal preparation; a dose).

While 剂量 (jìliàng) is a modern, scientific term, its importance resonates with deep-seated cultural values in Chinese health practices, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In both Western and Chinese medicine as practiced today, the concept of a precise 剂量 is paramount for safety and efficacy. This reflects a universal respect for scientific methodology and expert authority. However, in the context of TCM, the idea of a carefully measured “dose” of various herbs in a complex formula has existed for centuries. The balance is everything. An ancient physician wouldn't just give a patient “some” ginseng; they would prescribe a specific weight to be boiled with other ingredients in a precise ratio. Therefore, while the word 剂量 itself is modern, it taps into a cultural understanding that health and healing depend on precision, balance, and following the specific instructions of a knowledgeable practitioner. It contrasts with a more casual Western approach where someone might say, “Just take a couple of aspirin.” In China, the expectation is to adhere strictly to the prescribed 剂量 (jìliàng), a concept known as 遵医嘱 (zūn yīzhǔ), or “following the doctor's orders.”

剂量 (jìliàng) is used almost exclusively in formal, technical, or medical contexts. You will encounter it frequently in these situations:

• At the Hospital or Pharmacy: When a doctor explains your prescription, they will refer to the 剂量. The label on your medicine box will have a section titled 【用法用量】(yòngfǎ yòngliàng), meaning “Usage and Dosage.”
• Scientific and Technical Fields: The term is also used for other types of measured exposure, such as 辐射剂量 (fúshè jìliàng) for “radiation dose” or the dosage of chemicals in a lab.
• Formal Health Discussions: When discussing a medical condition seriously, using 剂量 shows a more educated and precise understanding than simply saying how many pills to take.

It is a neutral term, carrying no inherent positive or negative connotation. Its formality means you wouldn't typically use it in a very casual chat unless the topic is specifically about medical instructions.

• Example 1:
  • 医生，这个药的剂量是多少？
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng, zhège yào de jìliàng shì duōshǎo?
  • English: Doctor, what is the dosage for this medicine?
  • Analysis: A direct and essential question to ask a healthcare professional. This is a very common and practical use of the term.
• Example 2:
  • 请严格按照推荐剂量服用。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng yángé ànzhào tuījiàn jìliàng fúyòng.
  • English: Please take this strictly according to the recommended dosage.
  • Analysis: This is a formal instruction you would see on medicine packaging or hear from a pharmacist. 严格 (yángé) means “strictly.”
• Example 3:
  • 儿童的剂量必须减少。
  • Pinyin: Értóng de jìliàng bìxū jiǎnshǎo.
  • English: The dosage for children must be reduced.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights that the dosage is specific to the patient. 儿童 (értóng) means “children.”
• Example 4:
  • 如果你忘记服药，不要在下一次服用双倍剂量。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ wàngjì fúyào, bùyào zài xià yī cì fúyòng shuāngbèi jìliàng.
  • English: If you forget a dose, do not take a double dose next time.
  • Analysis: This provides important safety advice related to dosage. 双倍 (shuāngbèi) means “double.”
• Example 5:
  • 增加剂量可能会导致严重的副作用。
  • Pinyin: Zēngjiā jìliàng kěnéng huì dǎozhì yánzhòng de fùzuòyòng.
  • English: Increasing the dosage may lead to serious side effects.
  • Analysis: This sentence connects the concept of dosage to its potential consequences. 副作用 (fùzuòyòng) means “side effects.”
• Example 6:
  • 医生根据我的体重调整了剂量。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng gēnjù wǒ de tǐzhòng tiáozhěngle jìliàng.
  • English: The doctor adjusted the dosage according to my body weight.
  • Analysis: This shows that dosage is often personalized. 调整 (tiáozhěng) means “to adjust.”
• Example 7:
  • 这种药物的致死剂量非常低。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng yàowù de zhìsǐ jìliàng fēicháng dī.
  • English: The lethal dose of this medication is very low.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a more technical and serious use of the term. 致死 (zhìsǐ) means “lethal” or “fatal.”
• Example 8:
  • 我们必须计算出安全的辐射剂量。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū jìsuàn chū ānquán de fúshè jìliàng.
  • English: We must calculate a safe radiation dose.
  • Analysis: An example of 剂量 used outside a purely pharmaceutical context. 辐射 (fúshè) means “radiation.”
• Example 9:
  • 每日最大剂量不应超过四片。
  • Pinyin: Měirì zuìdà jìliàng bù yìng chāoguò sì piàn.
  • English: The maximum daily dosage should not exceed four pills.
  • Analysis: A clear warning about limits. 最大 (zuìdà) means “maximum.”
• Example 10:
  • 起始剂量通常比较小，然后逐渐增加。
  • Pinyin: Qǐshǐ jìliàng tōngcháng bǐjiào xiǎo, ránhòu zhújiàn zēngjiā.
  • English: The initial dose is usually relatively small and then gradually increased.
  • Analysis: This describes a common medical strategy. 起始 (qǐshǐ) means “initial” or “starting.”

• 剂量 (jìliàng) vs. 份 (fèn): A common mistake for learners is to confuse 剂量 with more general words for “amount” or “portion.”
  • Incorrect: `这个药的“份”是多少？(Zhège yào de “fèn” shì duōshǎo?)`
  • Correct: `这个药的剂量是多少？(Zhège yào de jìliàng shì duōshǎo?)`
  • Why it's wrong: 份 (fèn) refers to a serving or a packet, like `一份药 (yī fèn yào)` for “one packet of medicine.” 剂量 refers to the specific medical quantity (e.g., 500mg) contained within that portion. For a precise medical question, 剂量 is the correct term.
• Formality: Remember that 剂量 is formal. In a casual conversation with a friend, you are more likely to ask `你一次吃几片？(Nǐ yīcì chī jǐ piàn?)` - “How many pills do you take at a time?” You would use 剂量 when speaking with a doctor, reading a label, or in a serious discussion about health.

• 用量 (yòngliàng) - Usage amount. A very close synonym for 剂量 and often used interchangeably on medicine labels in the phrase `用法用量 (yòngfǎ yòngliàng)`.
• 过量 (guòliàng) - Overdose. The character 过 (guò) means “to exceed,” so this literally means an “exceeded amount.”
• 处方 (chǔfāng) - Prescription. The doctor's official document that specifies the 剂量.
• 药 (yào) - Medicine; drug. The substance that is administered in a specific 剂量.
• 副作用 (fùzuòyòng) - Side effect. A potential result of taking a certain medicine, often dependent on the 剂量.
• 遵医嘱 (zūn yīzhǔ) - To follow a doctor's advice. A crucial instruction related to taking the correct 剂量.
• 毫克 (háokè) - Milligram (mg). A common unit used to measure a 剂量.
• 疗程 (liáochéng) - Course of treatment. Describes the total duration over which a specific 剂量 is administered.
• 口服 (kǒufú) - To take orally. A common instruction that precedes the 剂量 information.