The invention relates to a qualitative identification method for commonly used medicines. In the method for identifying gentiana macrophylla medicine, roburic acid is used as a reference, and a thin layer chromatography is adopted to perform qualitative identification. The method for identifying gentiana macrophylla medicine comprises the following steps of: (a) preparing a sample solution; (b) preparing a reference solution; and (c) identifying by the thin layer chromatography, wherein step (a) and step (b) are not in sequence. In the method for identifying gentiana macrophylla medicine, roburic acid is selected as the reference, and thin layer identification has the advantages of strong specificity, simple operation, good reproducibility and low cost. The method can be listed into legal standards to be used a specificity identification method for gentiana macrophylla medicine.