‘打针’ literally means ‘to strike/insert a needle’ — ‘打’ (dǎ) here functions as a verb meaning ‘to administer’ or ‘to give’, and ‘针’ (zhēn) means ‘needle’. Together, the phrase refers to the act of receiving or giving an injection, most commonly a medical injection such as a vaccine or antibiotic. It is widely used in everyday spoken Chinese, especially in clinical, parental, and health-related contexts.

Although ‘打针’ can technically refer to either giving or receiving an injection, context usually makes the subject clear — for example, doctors ‘give injections’, while children or patients ‘receive injections’. It’s a neutral, colloquial term — more common than formal alternatives like ‘注射’ (zhùshè) in daily conversation. The phrase is often associated with mild anxiety (especially among children), so it frequently appears in discussions about immunizations, illness treatment, or routine check-ups.