药到病除
yào dào bìng chú
the medicine works at once; (fig.) a quick, sure fix
Character by character
药yào
medicine
medicine
到dào
arrives
arrives
病bìng
illness
illness
除chú
removed
removed
Example
这位老中医很有名，好多病人都说，吃了他开的药，真是药到病除。
This old doctor of Chinese medicine is famous: many patients say that his medicine cured them straight away.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Embroidered on the silk banners (锦旗) that grateful patients give doctors, and used of any remedy that solves a problem straight away. Be wary of it in adverts: no honest doctor promises it.
Learn this in Lesson 47 · HSK 5–6: 去医院看病 (Seeing a doctor)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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