‘药片’ literally means ‘medicine slice’ — combining 药 (yào, ‘medicine’) and 片 (piàn, ‘slice’ or ‘flat piece’). It refers specifically to solid, oral dosage forms of medication: pills or tablets, typically small, round, and swallowed with water. Unlike liquid medicine (药水) or capsules (胶囊), 药片 are compressed powders that dissolve in the stomach.

This word is common in everyday health contexts — at pharmacies, hospitals, or when following prescriptions. It’s neutral in register, appropriate for both formal medical instructions and casual conversation (e.g., ‘Take one pill after dinner’). While 药 can refer broadly to any medicine, adding 片 specifies the physical form, making it precise and unambiguous.