Meet 薬 in everyday words about medicines and pharmacies. Learn each reading with a whole word.

The idea

薬 has 16 strokes; follow the linked diagram. 薬 alone is くすり, while 薬局 is やっきょく and 薬剤師 is やくざいし. In 風邪薬, くすり becomes ぐすり.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
薬くすりI take medicine after meals.
薬局やっきょくThere is a pharmacy near the station.
薬剤師やくざいしI asked the pharmacist a question.
風邪薬かぜぐすりI bought cold medicine at the pharmacy.

Examples

  • 食後しょくごに薬くすりを飲のみます。I take medicine after meals.
  • 駅えきの近ちかくに薬局やっきょくがあります。There is a pharmacy near the station.
  • 薬剤師やくざいしに質問しつもんをしました。I asked the pharmacist a question.
  • この薬くすりは苦にがいです。This medicine is bitter.
  • 医者いしゃが薬くすりを処方しょほうしました。The doctor prescribed medicine.
  • 薬局やっきょくで風邪薬かぜぐすりを買かいました。I bought cold medicine at the pharmacy.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

薬 resembles 楽, but 薬 has the grass component 艹 at the top. Do not read 薬局 as くすりきょく: learn its small っ as part of the word.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 薬 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    くすり

    薬 is くすり: 食後に薬を飲みます means “I take medicine after meals.”

  2. Write the reading of 薬局 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    やっきょく

    薬局 is やっきょく, with a small っ before きょく; it means pharmacy.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 風邪＿（かぜぐすり）［薬／楽］.

    Show answer or example answer

    薬

    薬 completes 風邪薬（かぜぐすり）, medicine for a cold. 楽 is a different character.

Use it today

Write 薬 with the stroke-order diagram. Cover the table, read 薬 and 薬局 aloud, then make a sentence with one.