Abstract: OBJECTIVE Discusses the concept and content of the appropriate use of traditional Chinese medicine, in order to improve clinical pharmacists' skills in rational use of Chinese herbal medicine. METHODS Investigate the principle appropriate use of traditional Chinese medicine, and clear the academic connotation of the "appropriateness" of rational drug use, throughout reviewing the literature and theoretical analysis, and combining with the theoretical basis of traditional Chinese medicine and the complex medical environment as well. RESULTS The basic connotation of the appropriate use of traditional Chinese medicine refers to the appropriateness of all the process of drug application, and was also an important component of rational drug use. Appropriateness includes the appropriate patients, medications, dosage and therapeutic duration, appropriate administration route and decocting method, appropriate medication methods, and suitable therapeutic goals, etc. CONCLUSION Appropriate drug use is one of the basic measures and demands for the rational use of traditional Chinese medicine. Appropriateness is defined as the right medications, right dosages, right time, right medication route, right patients, to achieve the desired therapeutic goals.