on1 wai3 zai1安慰劑安慰剂

Jyutpingon1 wai3 zai1

Yaleōn wai jāi

名詞

Definition

Placebo; a substance with no active therapeutic effect given for psychological benefit.

neutralhealth

How it's used

This term is primarily used in medical or scientific contexts to describe treatments that lack active ingredients. While it is a direct loan translation, it is widely understood by native speakers due to the prevalence of the concept in health discussions. It is often used to explain why someone feels better after taking a pill that has no chemical effect on their condition.

Measure word

zek3隻jek

Examples

ji1醫sang1生waa6話le1呢zek3隻joek6藥kei4其sat6實hai6係on1安wai3慰zai1劑。

The doctor said this medicine is actually a placebo.

nei5你sik6食go2嗰nap1粒hai6係on1安wai3慰zai1劑lai2嚟㗎gaa2咋，zaa5唔m4係hai6藥。

The pill you took is just a placebo, not real medicine.

Common phrases

on1安wai3慰zai1劑haau6效jing3應

placebo effect

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse this with 補品, which refers to health supplements or tonics that are believed to have actual nutritional or medicinal benefits, whereas 安慰劑 specifically implies a lack of pharmacological effect.