kàngshēngsù: 抗生素 - Antibiotic

• Keywords: kangshengsu, 抗生素, antibiotic in Chinese, Chinese medicine, penicillin in Chinese, doctor in China, pharmacy in China, cold and flu in China, overuse of antibiotics, kàngshēngsù meaning, what is kangshengsu.
• Summary: Learn how to say and use “antibiotic” in Chinese with the word 抗生素 (kàngshēngsù). This entry breaks down the characters, explains its critical role in modern Chinese healthcare, and discusses the important cultural context of antibiotic overuse and resistance. Perfect for anyone navigating the Chinese medical system or discussing health.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kàngshēngsù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: A chemical substance that inhibits the growth of or destroys bacteria and other microorganisms; an antibiotic.
• In a Nutshell: 抗生素 (kàngshēngsù) is the direct and standard medical term for “antibiotic.” It's a modern, scientific word you will encounter at any doctor's office, hospital, or pharmacy in China. It functions exactly like its English counterpart, referring to drugs that fight bacterial infections.

• 抗 (kàng): To resist, to fight against, to oppose (anti-). Pictographically, it combines a hand (手) with a character (亢) implying something high or opposing, suggesting the act of pushing back or resisting.
• 生 (shēng): Life, to live, to grow. A foundational character, originally a pictogram of a plant sprouting from the earth. It represents biological life.
• 素 (sù): Element, substance, essence. It can also mean “plain” or “vegetarian,” but in a chemical or biological context, it refers to a fundamental component or substance.

Putting them together, 抗-生-素 (kàng-shēng-sù) literally means “resist-life-substance.” This is a remarkably direct and logical translation of the concept “anti-biotic,” a substance that works against living microorganisms.

The use of 抗生素 (kàngshēngsù) in China has a significant modern cultural context that differs from many Western countries, primarily revolving around historical overuse. For a long time, it was extremely common for Chinese doctors to prescribe, and for patients to expect, antibiotics for almost any illness, including viral infections like the common cold (感冒 - gǎnmào). This was partly driven by a patient belief that antibiotics were a powerful, catch-all cure and a desire for a “quick fix.” This led to a serious national and global problem of antibiotic resistance (耐药性 - nàiyàoxìng). In comparison to the US, where public awareness campaigns about antibiotic resistance started earlier, the cultural expectation in China for receiving 抗生素 for a simple cold was much stronger and lasted longer. In recent years, the Chinese government has launched massive public health campaigns and enacted stricter regulations to control the prescription of antibiotics. While the “antibiotics-for-everything” mindset is changing, especially in major cities, its legacy is an important piece of modern Chinese medical culture. As a foreigner, understanding this context helps you navigate doctor visits and understand why a doctor might now be reluctant to prescribe them.

You will encounter 抗生素 (kàngshēngsù) almost exclusively in medical and health-related contexts.

• At the Doctor's Office (在诊所 - zài zhěnsuǒ): This is the most common place to hear the term. A doctor will use it when explaining a diagnosis and treatment plan for a bacterial infection.
• At the Pharmacy (在药店 - zài yàodiàn): While it was once easy to buy some antibiotics over the counter, regulations now require a doctor's prescription (处方 - chǔfāng) for most 抗生素. You will use this word when presenting your prescription.
• In General Conversation: People will use it when discussing their health. For example: “My son has a fever, the doctor prescribed him some antibiotics.” or “My cold is viral, so antibiotics are useless.”

The term is neutral and clinical. It has no strong positive or negative connotation on its own, but the *overuse* of it is viewed negatively by the medical community and increasingly by the public.

• Example 1:
  • 医生给我开了一些抗生素来治疗感染。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng gěi wǒ kāi le yīxiē kàngshēngsù lái zhìliáo gǎnrǎn.
  • English: The doctor prescribed me some antibiotics to treat the infection.
  • Analysis: A standard, common sentence you would use to explain what a doctor gave you. 开 (kāi) here means “to prescribe.”
• Example 2:
  • 你对青霉素这种抗生素过敏吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ duì qīngméisù zhè zhǒng kàngshēngsù guòmǐn ma?
  • English: Are you allergic to penicillin, this type of antibiotic?
  • Analysis: Shows how to specify a type of antibiotic. 青霉素 (qīngméisù) is penicillin. The structure 对…过敏 (duì…guòmǐn) means “to be allergic to…”.
• Example 3:
  • 你必须吃完整个疗程的抗生素，不能中途停药。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū chī wán zhěnggè liáochéng de kàngshēngsù, bùnéng zhōngtú tíng yào.
  • English: You must finish the entire course of antibiotics; you can't stop taking the medicine halfway through.
  • Analysis: This is crucial medical advice. 疗程 (liáochéng) means “course of treatment.”
• Example 4:
  • 普通感冒是病毒引起的，吃抗生素是没用的。
  • Pinyin: Pǔtōng gǎnmào shì bìngdú yǐnqǐ de, chī kàngshēngsù shì méiyòng de.
  • English: The common cold is caused by a virus, taking antibiotics is useless.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the growing public awareness about the proper use of antibiotics.
• Example 5:
  • 滥用抗生素会导致严重的耐药性问题。
  • Pinyin: Lànyòng kàngshēngsù huì dǎozhì yánzhòng de nàiyàoxìng wèntí.
  • English: The abuse/overuse of antibiotics will lead to serious drug resistance problems.
  • Analysis: 滥用 (lànyòng) is a formal word for “to abuse” or “misuse.” 耐药性 (nàiyàoxìng) is “drug resistance.”
• Example 6:
  • 这个抗生素需要一天吃三次，饭后服用。
  • Pinyin: Zhège kàngshēngsù xūyào yītiān chī sāncì, fàn hòu fúyòng.
  • English: This antibiotic needs to be taken three times a day, after meals.
  • Analysis: Practical instructions you might receive from a pharmacist. 服用 (fúyòng) is a more formal way of saying “to take medicine” than 吃药 (chīyào).
• Example 7:
  • 我的喉咙发炎了，我需要抗生素吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de hóulóng fāyán le, wǒ xūyào kàngshēngsù ma?
  • English: My throat is inflamed, do I need antibiotics?
  • Analysis: A common question a patient might ask a doctor. 发炎 (fāyán) means “to be inflamed.”
• Example 8:
  • 这是一种广谱抗生素，可以杀死多种细菌。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī zhǒng guǎngpǔ kàngshēngsù, kěyǐ shā sǐ duō zhǒng xìjūn.
  • English: This is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that can kill many types of bacteria.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates more specific medical terminology. 广谱 (guǎngpǔ) means “broad-spectrum.”
• Example 9:
  • 如果抗生素不起作用，你得回来看医生。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ kàngshēngsù bù qǐ zuòyòng, nǐ děi huílái kàn yīshēng.
  • English: If the antibiotics don't work, you have to come back to see the doctor.
  • Analysis: 起作用 (qǐ zuòyòng) is a key phrase meaning “to take effect” or “to be effective.”
• Example 10:
  • 现在买抗生素必须要有医生的处方。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài mǎi kàngshēngsù bìxū yào yǒu yīshēng de chǔfāng.
  • English: Nowadays, you must have a doctor's prescription to buy antibiotics.
  • Analysis: Highlights the current regulations in China. 处方 (chǔfāng) is “prescription.”

• “Antibiotic” vs. “Anti-inflammatory”: A Critical Distinction
  • A very common point of confusion for learners (and even some native speakers colloquially) is the difference between 抗生素 (kàngshēngsù) and 消炎药 (xiāoyányào).
  • 抗生素 (kàngshēngsù): Antibiotic. Kills bacteria. It treats the *cause* of a bacterial infection.
  • 消炎药 (xiāoyányào): Anti-inflammatory drug. Reduces inflammation, swelling, pain, and fever (e.g., ibuprofen). It treats the *symptoms*.
  • The Mistake: People in China often colloquially refer to antibiotics as 消炎药 (xiāoyányào) because a bacterial infection causes inflammation, and the antibiotic, by killing the bacteria, ultimately “reduces the inflammation.” So, if you say “I need some 消炎药,” a doctor might ask for more details to determine if you mean an actual anti-inflammatory or an antibiotic. Always use 抗生素 to be precise when you mean antibiotic.
• Assuming They are Over-the-Counter
  • While it may have been possible years ago to buy antibiotics without a prescription, this is no longer the case in most legitimate pharmacies in China. Regulations have tightened significantly. Do not assume you can just walk in and buy them. You will need a 处方 (chǔfāng), or prescription.

• 消炎药 (xiāoyányào) - Anti-inflammatory drug. The most common point of confusion with `抗生素`. It treats symptoms like swelling, not the underlying bacteria.
• 耐药性 (nàiyàoxìng) - Drug resistance. The direct consequence of overusing `抗生素`.
• 处方 (chǔfāng) - Prescription. The document from a doctor required to purchase `抗生素`.
• 病毒 (bìngdú) - Virus. A type of pathogen for which `抗生素` are ineffective.
• 细菌 (xìjūn) - Bacteria. The type of microorganism that `抗生素` are designed to kill.
• 感染 (gǎnrǎn) - Infection. The medical condition that often requires treatment with `抗生素`.
• 看病 (kànbìng) - To see a doctor. The context in which you would be prescribed `抗生素`.
• 药店 (yàodiàn) - Pharmacy/Drugstore. The place where you buy `抗生素` (with a prescription).
• 青霉素 (qīngméisù) - Penicillin. A common and well-known type of `抗生素`.
• 发烧 (fāshāo) - To have a fever. A common symptom that might lead to a doctor visit and a potential prescription for `抗生素` if the cause is bacterial.