drug
/drʌɡ/ (bre, ipa) · /drʌɡ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdrəg/ (ame, mw)
drug — 名詞
1. A substance, whether natural or created in a laboratory, that is used to treat o
藥物；藥品
用於治療或預防疾病的化學物質
A substance, whether natural or created in a laboratory, that is used to treat or prevent a medical condition. Doctors prescribe drugs, and they can also be bought from a pharmacy for minor illnesses.
The doctor prescribed a new drug to lower Eleni's blood pressure.
醫生開了一種新藥來降低 Eleni 的血壓。
collocation: prescribe a drug / drug for [condition]
This drug is most effective when taken right after a meal.
這種藥在飯後服用效果最好。
passive: be taken + time specification
Many common drugs, such as aspirin, can be bought without a prescription.
許多常見藥物（如阿斯匹靈）無需處方即可購買。
The hospital pharmacy keeps a record of every drug it supplies to patients.
醫院藥局對其提供給病人的每一種藥物都留有紀錄。
- medicine
more general, often used for anything taken to treat illness; drug emphasises the chemical composition
- medication
more formal, commonly used by healthcare professionals; implies a prescribed treatment plan
- remedy
often suggests a natural or traditional treatment rather than a laboratory-made chemical
- placebo
a substance with no active medical ingredients, used in clinical trials for comparison
文法句型
[countable] drug
drug for [illness]
用法筆記
In this sense, drug is neutral and positive — it refers to a treatment for illness. Distinguish from sense 2 (RECREATIONAL), where drugs are taken for pleasure and may be illegal. The context of doctors, prescriptions, and pharmacies tells you which sense is intended.
常見錯誤
2. A substance that people take for pleasure, to change how they feel mentally, to
毒品；禁藥
用於娛樂或提神、可能成癮且常違法的物質
A substance that people take for pleasure, to change how they feel mentally, to do better at a sport or activity, or because they have become dependent on it. Many such drugs are illegal, and using them can be harmful to health and society.
The police arrested Mert for selling drugs outside the school gates.
警方因為 Mert 在學校門口賣毒品而將他逮捕。
collocation: sell drugs
Some athletes turn to performance-enhancing drugs to gain an unfair advantage.
有些運動員使用提升表現的禁藥來獲得不公平的優勢。
compound noun: performance-enhancing drugs
Jiwoo's brother started using drugs in high school, and soon he could not stop.
Jiwoo 的哥哥在高中時開始吸毒，很快就無法自拔。
Sirin never accepted a drink from a stranger — it might contain drugs.
Sirin 從來不接受陌生人的飲料——裡面可能摻有毒品。
文法句型
[countable, usually plural] drugs
用法筆記
In this sense, drugs are almost always discussed in the context of addiction, crime, or health dangers. When people say 'drug problem' or 'drug addiction' without further context, they usually mean sense 2 rather than sense 1 (MEDICINE). Plural form is far more common than singular in this sense.
常見錯誤
3. An activity or habit that someone enjoys so much that they spend almost all thei
上癮事物
令人沉迷、無法戒斷的活動或習慣
An activity or habit that someone enjoys so much that they spend almost all their time or money on it, and find it very difficult to stop.
Video games have become a drug for Asher — he plays for ten hours every day.
電玩對 Asher 來說就像毒品一樣——他每天玩十個小時。
figurative: be a drug for [someone]
Social media has become a drug for Yuki — she scrolls for hours and cannot stop.
社群媒體對 Yuki 來說就像毒品一樣——她滑個不停，無法自拔。
figurative: be a drug for [someone]
The gym was a drug for Folake, who would not quit despite her doctor's warning.
健身房對 Folake 來說就像毒品一樣，她不顧醫生警告仍然持續健身。
Shopping had become a drug for Wren, who kept buying things she did not need.
購物已經成了 Wren 的癮頭，她不斷買自己不需要的東西。
文法句型
[singular] be a drug for [person]
用法筆記
This is a figurative, informal sense. It is typically used in the pattern 'something is a drug for someone'. The activity is compared to an addictive substance. Common in journalism and casual conversation, but avoid in formal writing.
常見錯誤
drug — 動詞
1. To make a person or an animal sleepy, unconscious, or unusually calm by giving t
下藥；麻醉
給人或動物施用藥物使其失去知覺或改變行為
To make a person or an animal sleepy, unconscious, or unusually calm by giving them a chemical substance, often without their knowledge. In medical settings, it can also mean giving a sedative before a procedure.
The kidnappers drugged Vivek and left him tied up in a locked room.
綁匪對 Vivek 下藥，把他綁起來關在鎖著的房間裡。
active: drug + person (criminal context)
The cat was drugged before the operation so the vet could work safely.
那隻貓在手術前被施以麻醉，讓獸醫能夠安全地進行操作。
passive: be drugged (medical context)
Thieves drugged the guard's drink and stole the paintings during the night.
竊賊在警衛的飲料裡下藥，趁夜偷走了畫作。
Eleni felt dizzy and realised someone must have drugged her water bottle.
Eleni 感到頭暈，意識到一定有人在她的水瓶裡下了藥。
- sedate
medical term; implies a controlled, professional context rather than criminal intent
- anaesthetise
more specific; means to make someone unconscious, usually for surgery
- dope
informal; often used for doping in sports or giving drugs to animals
文法句型
drug [person/animal]
be drugged
drug [drink/food]
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice ('was drugged') and in crime reporting. In medical contexts, the verb is often replaced by 'sedate' or 'give an anaesthetic', though 'drug' is still used informally. The object can be a person, an animal, or food/drink.
常見錯誤
2. To regularly take illegal or recreational substances for pleasure or to feel dif
吸毒；用藥
使用娛樂性或非法藥物（尤指成癮性地）
To regularly take illegal or recreational substances for pleasure or to feel different, especially in a way that causes dependency.
Vinícius started drugging at parties, but soon he was using every weekend.
Vinícius 在派對上開始吸毒，但很快每個週末都在用。
start drugging (informal intransitive)
The singer admitted that she had been drugging heavily during her twenties.
那位歌手承認她二十多歲時毒癮很重。
adverb: drug heavily
Their mother begged them to stop drugging before they destroyed their health.
他們的母親懇求他們在健康被毀掉之前停止吸毒。
Christopher watched his friends drift away one by one as he sank deeper into drugging.
Christopher 眼睜睜看著朋友們一個個離去，而他吸毒的狀況卻越陷越深。
- do drugs
more common in everyday speech; less stigmatising than 'drug' as a verb
- use drugs
more neutral; commonly found in clinical and journalistic writing
- abuse drugs
stronger; implies harmful or excessive use
文法句型
drug (intransitive)
start drugging
用法筆記
This is an informal, intransitive use. It is less common than the phrasal alternative 'do drugs' or 'take drugs'. In the continuous form ('drugging'), it often implies a serious or habitual problem. Avoid in formal writing.