薬

JLPT N3

Medicine

Readings

On’yomi: ヤク (yaku)

Kun’yomi: くすり (kusuri)

• くすり – medicine

Structure

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Composition: Purchase the course for full access of this content.

Detailed Explanation

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Mnemonic

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Etymology

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Visual Tip

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Vocabulary

薬

くすり

medicine

薬局

やっきょく

pharmacy

薬品

やくひん

drug

薬代

くすりだい

medicine cost

目薬

めぐすり

eye drops

Example Sentences

薬を飲みます。

くすりをのみます。

I take medicine.

薬局に行きます。

やっきょくにいきます。

I go to the pharmacy.

薬品を使います。

やくひんをつかいます。

I use chemicals.

薬代を払います。

くすりだいをはらいます。

I pay for medicine.

目薬をさします。

めぐすりをさします。

I use eye drops.

Cultural Note

🌿 Traditional Japanese medicine, known as 漢方 (かんぽう), relies heavily on herbal ingredients (薬) to maintain balance and harmony in the body.
• Pharmacies in Japan often display the word 薬 (くすり) prominently outside.
• In daily life, 薬 symbolizes not just physical healing but also soothing relief and comfort.
• The word 薬になる (“to become medicine”) is also used metaphorically, meaning something beneficial or instructive.