薬
kusuri[kɯ̟̊sɨɾʲi]
The English word 'medicine' is translated into Japanese as 薬 (kusuri). Wiktionary also lists 薬剤 (yakuzai) and 医薬品 (iyakuhin).
Meaning: substance which promotes healing (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 薬 | kusuri | [kɯ̟̊sɨɾʲi] (narrow) [ja̠kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 薬剤 | yakuzai | [ja̠kɯ̟za̠i] (narrow) |
| 医薬品 | iyakuhin | [ija̠kɯ̟çĩɴ] (narrow) |
The term refers to a substance that promotes healing. When referring to taking medicine orally, Japanese speakers use the collocation 薬を飲む (kusuri o nomu).
Which one should you use?
薬 (kusuri) is the most common, everyday term used in general conversation. 薬剤 (yakuzai) is a more technical or professional term often used in pharmaceutical or chemical contexts. 医薬品 (iyakuhin) is a formal term used in legal, regulatory or official medical contexts to refer to pharmaceutical products.
How do you pronounce it?
kusuri
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying 薬を取る (kusuri o toru) to mean taking medicine. While this is a common error for English speakers, the natural way to express taking medicine orally is to use the verb 飲む (to drink).
Did you know?
- The word 薬 (kusuri) shares a deep linguistic connection with the concept of the 'mystical' or 'strange'. It is thought to be related to the root of the adjective 奇し (kusushi), which describes something supernatural.
- The formal term 医薬品 (iyakuhin) uses the character 品 (hin), which literally means 'item' or 'goods', treating medicine as a category of commercial product.
- The term 薬剤 (yakuzai) is used primarily by pharmacists and chemists rather than by patients.
Examples in context
- 薬の時間だ。It's time for me to take my medicine.This sentence is useful for expressing that it is time to consume your medicine using 薬.Tatoeba #11998683 by small_snow, translation #12229357 by CK
- この薬は苦い。This medicine tastes bitter.This sentence describes the bitter taste of the medicine using 薬.Tatoeba #219288 by tommy__san, translation #56604 by CK
- 薬は飲んだの？Did you take your medicine?This sentence is a way to ask if someone has consumed their medicine using 薬.Tatoeba #10473145 by small_snow, translation #2888231 by CK
- Kusuri o kudasai (薬をください)Could you please give me some medicine?
- Kusuri wa doko de kaimasu ka? (薬はどこで買いますか？)Where can I buy medicine?
- Kibun ga warui desu. Kusuri wa arimasu ka? (気分が悪いです。薬はありますか？)I'm feeling unwell. Do you have any medicine?
- 218 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are at home talking about a cold.
- 蓮 Ren美咲、風邪の薬は飲んだ？Misaki, kaze no kusuri wa nonda?Misaki, did you take your cold medicine?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、さっき飲んだよ。un, sakki nonda yo.Yes, I took it a while ago.
- 蓮 Renよかった。ゆっくり休んでね。yokatta. yukkuri yasunde ne.That's good. Please get some rest.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとう、蓮。arigatou, Ren.Thank you, Ren.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “medicine” translations and entries 薬, 薬剤, 医薬品, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 医薬品, 薬, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
