Over the counter
Neutral Neutral
What it really means
Describes medicines you can buy without a prescription, like painkillers and cold remedies. Often shortened to OTC. Some stronger medicines are kept behind the counter and the pharmacist may ask a few questions.
Chinese explanation
非处方（OTC）：不需要处方就能买的药，如止痛药、感冒药。有些稍强的药放在柜台后面，药剂师会先问几个问题。
Example conversation
A: Do I need a prescription for hay fever tablets?
B: No, you can get them over the counter at any chemist.
A：买抗花粉症的药需要处方吗？
B：不用，任何药店都能直接买到非处方的。
What you could say back
No spoken reply needed for this one.
Related phrases
Official sources
Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.
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Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake