zai1劑剂
Jyutpingzai1
Yalejāi
Definition
A dose; a classifier used for prepared medicines or chemical products.
neutralhealth
How it's used
Primarily reserved for traditional Chinese medicine, this classifier specifically denotes a single prepared portion of herbs or decoction. It implies the entire process of brewing or preparing the ingredients into a consumable form. While it functions as a measure word, it carries a sense of a complete treatment unit rather than just a simple count.
Examples
The doctor prescribed two doses of medicine for me to take.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this for modern Western medicine like pills or tablets, where粒 or 包 are more appropriate. It is strictly tied to the context of liquid herbal medicine or traditional medicinal preparations.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
