The following is a list I’ve collected of the most common illicit drugs in the West, including both the English names, and Chinese translations and pinyin.
This collection should be useful for translating and interpreting students practicing in legal, police and medical contexts. I would recommend you learn all of this vocabulary if you want to be confident in this particular area.
The common drug name is provided in bold; alternative names are given in parentheses. I look forward to hearing from your corrections and additions if you have any – I’m definitely no expert in this area!
12 Illicit Drugs in English and Chinese
12个违禁毒品的中英文对照
- Marijuana (cannabis, weed; pot): 大麻 dàmá
- Ecstasy (X): 摇头丸 yáotóuwán
- Prescription drugs: 处方药 chǔfāngyào
- Methamphetamine (meth; crystal meth; ice): 甲基苯丙胺 jiǎjī běnbǐng’àn (chemical name); 冰毒 bīngdú (common street name)
- Cocaine (coke): 可卡因 kěkǎyīn
- Heroin (smack): 海洛因 hǎiluòyīn; 白粉 bǎifěn
- Painkillers (analgesics): 镇痛药 zhèntòngyào
- LSD (acid): 迷幻剂 míhuànjì
- Opium: 鸦片 yāpiàn
- Ketamine (special K): 氯胺酮 lǜ’āntóng (chemical name); K粉 k fěn (common street name)
- Inhalants: 吸入剂 xīrùjì
- Magic mushrooms (shrooms): 迷幻蘑菇 míhuàn mógu
I think I’ve heard ketamine referred to as K粉 too.
I had heard cocaine referred to as simply 白粉 before, but don’t know how common that is.
Opium is a loanword? Considering China’s history, I never would have guessed that.
A few years back I read that it was, but now I realise that’s quite unlikely. However, I still don’t know for sure; possibly the connection between “opium” and “鴉片” is a mere folk etymology. I’d be curious to know if anyone can shed light on this.
Second k粉 for ketamine.
Ecstacy can also be referred to as 快乐(丸) — see the MC Hotdog song 《快乐》 for this and other nicknames (http://cn.azlyricdb.com/lyrics/m/MC+HotDog-%BF%EC%C0%D6-53877).
* Heroin (smack): 海洛因 hǎiluòyīn
白粉 (bǎifěn) is commonly used, but 海洛因 works perfectly fine too.
*Ketamine (special K): 氯胺酮 lǜ’āntóng
Unless you’re talking to a chemist, no one would understand what on earth 氯胺酮 is. K 粉 (k fěn) is always used.
‘白粉’ to cocaine is as common as ‘weed’ or ‘pot’ to ‘marijuana’. Either one works, but the former is definitely more colloquial.
Some very useful points there, much appreciated. I’ve amended the entry now. Many thanks!
I do like your classes and your blog Mr. professional bilinguals !! your mandarin pronuciation is impressive, there are a lot of interesting topics on your blog. btw, my first impression of you was…. wow…. his hairstyle is…. so cool~
This is hilarious. I’m a former native of Xiamen until the age of six and now a citizen of Toronto Ontario. I’m fluently bilingual as well. I still go back to visit every now and then.