politeLesson 8

At the Pharmacy — Senior colleague

Situation

Where
A pharmacy
Who
You and a senior colleague
Goal
To describe symptoms and get medicine.

Conversation

Show

A

What seems to be the problem?

B

My throat has hurt since yesterday, and I have a slight fever.

A

I recommend this cold medicine. Take it three times a day, after meals.

B

Got it. Will it make me drowsy?

A

It can cause slight drowsiness. Please avoid it before driving.

Vocabulary (10)

nodo

throat

喉が痛い = "my throat hurts."

netsu

fever

熱がある = "to have a fever."

kazegusuri

cold medicine

薬 = "medicine."

shokugo

after meals

Opposite: 食前 (before meals).

nemui

sleepy

眠くなる = "to become drowsy."

sakeru

to avoid

運転前は避ける = "avoid before driving."

otsukaresamadesu

thank you for your work

The all-purpose workplace greeting, used like hello and goodbye between coworkers.

yoroshikuonegaishimasu

thank you in advance

Closes most requests and emails; sets a cooperative tone.

kakunin

confirmation / check

Daily-use word: ご確認お願いします means "please check."

shouchishimashita

understood (polite)

Politer than 分かりました; use with managers and clients.

Grammar

Honorific question

Polite "what happened?" — される is honorific する.

Adjective stem + くて

Connects reasons: 痛くて、熱もあります.

Verb dictionary + ことがあります

Sometimes happens: 眠くなることがあります.

Cultural Notes

Workplace etiquette

Pharmacists can advise on over-the-counter medicine. Describe symptoms and timing clearly.

Formality level

Polite. されました is honorific, treating the customer with respect.

Common mistake

Mention allergies and current medications; don't assume an OTC drug is automatically safe to combine.

Quiz

What does "喉" mean?

What does "熱" mean?

What does "風邪薬" mean?

What does "食後" mean?

What does "眠い" mean?

What does "避ける" mean?

How is the pattern "どうされましたか" used?

How is the pattern "〜くて" used?

How is the pattern "〜ことがあります" used?

What is the goal of this conversation?

Flashcards

Turn this lesson into flashcards

Save all 10 vocabulary items to your deck and review them later with spaced repetition.