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药性 (yào xìng) — property of a medicine (e.g., its nature, potency, or effect)

Definition

A technical term from traditional Chinese medicine referring to the inherent properties of a medicine — its nature (e.g. hot/cold), taste, and effect on the body. Used mainly in TCM contexts.

noun
property of a medicine (e.g., its nature, potency, or effect)

Examples

  • 药性。
    Zhè zhǒng zhōng yào de yào xìng hěn wēn hé.
    The property of this Chinese medicine is very mild.
  • 药性。
    Yī shēng gēn jù yào xìng lái tiáo zhěng yào fāng.
    The doctor adjusts the prescription based on the medicine's properties.
  • 药性。
    Bù tóng de yào xìng jué dìng le yào wù de gōng xiào.
    Different properties determine the efficacy of the medicine.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

药yàomedicine
性xìngnature; property

The medicine idea and nature idea combine to mean the property or potency of a medicine.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 藥; 药 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
樂
樂lè藥yào
Same sound today

In the traditional form 藥, 艹 shows grass and 樂 gives the sound; this story is about 藥, not about the simplified 药.

Open 药 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →
Appears in
Medicine & Treatment

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