Definition

1. Verb (phrase):
   • To make up a prescription (by a herbalist): The primary meaning refers to the specific action of a traditional herbalist gathering, weighing, and preparing the various herbs and ingredients to create a medicinal prescription for a patient.
   • To earn one's living as a herbalist: An extended, figurative meaning referring to the profession or practice of being a traditional herbal doctor.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Ông lang đang hốt thuốc cho bệnh nhân. (The herbalist is making up a prescription for the patient.)
  • Gia đình họ mấy đời hốt thuốc. (Their family has been in the herbalist profession for many generations.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "hốt thuốc" is considered a regional or local term and is also marked as somewhat archaic in modern usage. It is closely associated with traditional Vietnamese medicine.
• It implies a hands-on, skilled process of selecting and combining medicinal materials, often from a set of drawers or containers (a medicine cabinet).

Variants and Related Words

• Bốc thuốc (v): A more common or standard synonym for "hốt thuốc," meaning to dispense or prepare herbal medicine.
  • Nghe nói ông ấy bốc thuốc rất giỏi. (I heard he is very skilled at preparing herbal medicine.)

Synonyms

• Dispense herbs: To prepare and give out herbal medicine.
• Practice herbalism: To work as a herbalist.

Notes on Usage

• This term is specific to the context of traditional medicine. It is not used for modern pharmacists dispensing pharmaceutical drugs.
• The phrase "mấy đời hốt thuốc" is a set expression emphasizing a long family tradition in the herbalist profession, implying deep experience and knowledge passed down through generations.

1. (tiếng địa phương) make up a prescription (by a herbalist).
2. (từ cũ; nghĩa cũ) Earn one's living as herbalist
   • Mấy đời hốt thuốc
     Many generations of professional herbalist