TL-038 · Health
Ask a pharmacist how to take a medicine — Japanese
A pharmacy conversation for confirming how much medicine to take, how often to take it and whether to take it before or after meals.
Quick answer
この薬は1日何回飲めばいいですか？
Meaning How many times a day should I take this medicine?
Kono kusuri wa ichinichi nankai nomeba ii desu ka?
When to use it
Use this to confirm the instructions for a medicine you are actually receiving. Do not treat the sample dialogue as dosing advice; follow the medicine label and the pharmacist or clinician.
Core phrases
この薬は1日何回飲めばいいですか？
Kono kusuri wa ichinichi nankai nomeba ii desu ka?
How many times a day should I take this medicine?
1回に何錠飲めばいいですか？
Ikkaini nanjōnomebaiidesu ka?
How many tablets should I take each time?
食前ですか、食後ですか？
Shokuzendesuka, shokugodesu ka?
Should I take it before or after meals?
何日間飲めばいいですか？
Nannichikannomebaiidesu ka?
How many days should I take it for?
飲み方を書いてもらえますか？
Nomi katao kaitemoraemasu ka?
Could you write down the instructions for me?
What you may hear
ラベルに書いてあるとおりに服用してください。
Raberu ni kaitearutoorini fukuyōshitekudasai.
Take it according to the instructions on the label.
飲み方をここに書きますね。
Nomi kataokokoni kakimasune.
I'll write the instructions down for you.
How to respond
では、このラベルどおりに飲めばいいですね？
Deha, kono raberu doorini nomebaiidesune?
So I should follow the instructions on this label, right?
はい、飲み方を書いてください。
Hai, nomi katao kaitekudasai.
Yes, please write the instructions down for me.
Mini conversation
You
この薬は1日何回飲めばいいですか？
Kono kusuri wa ichinichi nankai nomeba ii desu ka?
How many times a day should I take this medicine?
Other person
薬の袋とラベルに飲み方が書いてあります。
Kusurino fukuroto raberu ni nomi kataga kaitearimasu.
The directions are written on the medicine bag and label.
You
1回に何錠かも確認してもらえますか？
Ikkaini nanjōkamo kakuninshitemoraemasu ka?
Could you also confirm how many tablets I should take each time?
Other person
はい、ここに表示されている服用量に従ってください。
Hai, kokoni hyōjisareteiru fukuyōryōni shitagattekudasai.
Yes. Please follow the dose shown here.
You
ありがとうございます。飲み方を書いてください。
Arigatōgozaimasu. Nomi katao kaitekudasai.
Thank you. Please write the instructions down for me.
More natural
English normally uses “take medicine,” while Japanese commonly uses 薬を飲む.
Good to know
Dosing instructions vary by medicine. Rely on the actual label, prescription and pharmacist's instructions, and ask again if anything is unclear.
Related situations
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