A sedative is a drug that slows you down: it calms a racing mind or a tense body, and in a stronger dose it can send you to sleep. Doctors give sedatives before some treatments, at night when someone cannot rest, or when a person is so upset they cannot be still.

A sedative is一種鎮靜劑 a drug that slows you down是一種讓你慢下來的藥 it calms它會安撫 a racing mind or a tense body跳得很快的心或緊繃的身體 and in a stronger dose而劑量比較重時 it can send you to sleep可以讓你睡著 Doctors give sedatives醫生會開鎮靜劑 before some treatments在某些治療前 at night when someone cannot rest或是晚上有人無法休息時 or when a person is so upset they cannot be still或是有人激動到無法安靜下來時

In everyday talk people also say sleeping pills or tranquillisers; those names are a bit looser. A sedative’s job is to quiet you, and sleep is often how that quiet arrives.

In everyday talk在日常對話裡 people also say大家也會說 sleeping pills or tranquillisers安眠藥或鎮定劑 those names are a bit looser這些說法比較籠統 A sedative's job鎮靜劑的作用 is to quiet you是讓你安靜下來 and sleep is often而睡著常常 how that quiet arrives就是這種安靜出現的方式

You will see the word on medicine packets and in hospital notes. It can also be a describing word: a sedative drug, a sedative effect.

You will see the word你會看到這個字 on medicine packets and in hospital notes印在藥包上和醫院的病歷紀錄裡 It can also be a describing word它也可以當形容詞用 a sedative drug鎮靜性的藥物 a sedative effect鎮靜效果

Though actually, a sedative is not a painkiller. It does not take the ache away so much as it takes the edge off you.

Though actually不過其實 a sedative鎮靜劑 is not a painkiller並不是止痛藥 It does not take the ache away它不會把痛拿走 so much as而是比較像 it takes the edge off you把你的緊繃感磨掉一點

Used carelessly, these drugs can be strong and habit-forming, which is why they are given with care.

Used carelessly如果用得不小心 these drugs這些藥 can be strong and habit-forming可能會很強、容易上癮 which is why也因此 they are given with care醫生開這種藥時會很小心