'喂药' (wèi yào) is a verb meaning 'to administer medicine'—specifically, to give medicine to someone (or something) by mouth, usually by hand or with a spoon, dropper, or syringe. The first character 喂 (wèi) means 'to feed' or 'to give food/drink', and 药 (yào) means 'medicine' or 'drug'. Together, they literally mean 'to feed medicine', emphasizing the act of physically delivering oral medication rather than prescribing, injecting, or applying it topically.

This term is commonly used in caregiving contexts—such as parents giving medicine to children, nurses assisting patients, or pet owners treating sick animals. It carries a connotation of direct, hands-on assistance and often implies effort or patience, especially when the recipient is reluctant (e.g., a crying toddler or a resistant cat). While it can be used formally in medical settings, it’s more frequent in informal, everyday speech than clinical terminology like '给药' (gěi yào), which is broader and more technical.