“Medicine” in Japanese is 薬 (くすり), pronounced kusuri.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Medicine. In Japanese you “drink” medicine: 薬を飲む. A pharmacy is 薬局 or 薬屋.
Example sentences
- 薬を飲みましたか。くすりをのみましたか。Did you take your medicine?
- 頭痛の薬はありますか。ずつうのくすりはありますか。Do you have medicine for headaches?
Quick practice
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Related words: Body & health
FAQ
How do you say medicine in Japanese?
Medicine in Japanese is 薬 (くすり), pronounced “kusuri”.
How do you write medicine in Japanese?
It's written 薬 with kanji, or くすり in hiragana. Both are read kusuri.
Is 薬 on the JLPT?
Yes. 薬 (kusuri) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.