How to Say ‘By the way, are you currently taking any other medication?’ in Japanese
ちなみに、今ほかにお薬は飲まれていますか。
chinami ni ima hoka ni o kusuri wa noma re te i masu ka
[chee-NAH-mee ni ima HOH-kah ni o koo-SOO-ree wah noh-MAH reh teh ee mahs kah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese pharmacists routinely ask this before selling stomach or pain medicine. It helps to know the names of what you take, or to carry your お薬手帳 (okusuri techō) "medicine record booklet".
Phrase Breakdown
ちなみに、
chinami ni
by the way
Used to add related information or a related question. Pronounced 'chinamini'.
ちなみに、お名前は？
By the way, what's your name?
Words in this phrase
ちなみ
chinami
[chee-NAH-mee]
by the way (part of ちなみに)
Stem forming ちなみに, used to add related info.
ちなみに、駐車場はありますか。
By the way, is there parking?
に
ni
[ni]
in
Indicates the target or location of an action.
日本に行く。
Go to Japan.
今ほかにお薬は
ima hoka ni o kusuri wa
any other medicine currently
今 (ima) means 'now'. ほかに (hoka ni) means 'other'. お薬は (okusuri wa) means 'medicine' as the topic.
今ほかにお薬はありますか。
Do you have any other medicine now?
Words in this phrase
今
ima
[ima]
now
At the present moment.
今、始まります。
Now, it begins.
ほか
hoka
[HOH-kah]
other; else
Noun meaning 'another' or 'something else'; with 'ni' it means 'in addition'.
ほかに質問はありますか。
Do you have any other questions?
に
ni
[ni]
in
Indicates the target or location of an action.
日本に行く。
Go to Japan.
お
o
[o]
polite prefix
Prefix added for politeness.
お名前は？
What is your name?
薬
kusuri
[koo-SOO-ree]
medicine; drug
General word for medicine or medication.
毎日薬を飲みます。
I take medicine every day.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker
は marks the topic of the sentence.
空席はありますか。
Are there any seats available?
飲まれていますか。
noma re te i masu ka
are you taking?
This is the respectful form of 飲んでいますか, asking 'are you taking (medicine)?'
ビタミンは飲まれていますか。
Are you taking vitamins?
Words in this phrase
飲ま
noma
[noh-MAH]
take (medicine); drink
Stem of 飲む; in Japanese you 'drink' medicine.
毎朝薬を飲まないといけません。
I must take medicine every morning.
れ
re
[reh]
(passive marker)
れ is part of the passive form: 追われる “to be chased.”
この女が どれほど巨大な組織に追われてきたか分かったか。
Did you understand how huge an organization has been chasing this woman?
て
te
[teh]
te-form ending
This ending connects actions, like 'cut and...' in instructions.
てをつけると、つぎのどうさにつなげられます。
When you add -te, you can connect it to the next action.
い
i
[ee]
be; ongoing state part
Part of the continuous form that shows an action is currently happening.
今も条件を比べている最中です。
I am still in the middle of comparing conditions.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.
予約を確認し ます。
I will confirm the reservation.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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