维生素 (wéishēngsù)

维生素 is the Chinese word for vitamins, the essential nutrients found in food that the body requires for proper function. It is commonly used when discussing health, diet, and supplements.

Meanings

[noun] vitamin; essential organic nutrients required by the body in small quantities

Example Sentences

橙子里含有丰富的维生素C。 Chéngzi lǐ hányǒu fēngfù de wéishēngsù C. Oranges contain abundant vitamin C.

如果你不经常晒太阳，可能需要补充维生素D。 Rúguǒ nǐ bù jīngcháng shài tàiyáng, kěnéng xūyào bǔchōng wéishēngsù D. If you don't get sunlight often, you may need to supplement vitamin D.

医生说她缺少维生素，建议她多吃蔬菜水果。 Yīshēng shuō tā quēshǎo wéishēngsù, jiànyì tā duō chī shūcài shuǐguǒ. The doctor said she is lacking vitamins and advised her to eat more fruits and vegetables.

这种维生素片每天只需要吃一颗。 Zhè zhǒng wéishēngsù piàn měitiān zhǐ xūyào chī yī kē. You only need to take one of these vitamin tablets per day.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
补充维生素	to supplement vitamins
缺少维生素	to lack vitamins
维生素C / D / B	vitamin C / D / B
维生素片	vitamin tablet

Usage Notes

维生素 is a three-character compound: 维 (to maintain) + 生 (life) + 素 (element/substance) — literally "life-maintaining substance." Specific vitamins are named by adding the letter: 维生素A, 维生素B, 维生素C, etc. In informal speech, people sometimes just say "VC" or "VD" for common vitamins.

Memory Hook

维 (maintain) + 生 (life) + 素 (substance) — vitamins are literally the substances that maintain life.