Onyomi: ヤク · Kunyomi: くすり · Meanings: benefit, chemical, enamel, gunpowder, medicine
Kanji for benefit, chemical, enamel, gunpowder, medicine
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Find visually similar kanji, commonly confused characters, related meanings, and useful words connected to 薬.
薬 is formed from the grass/plant radical 艹 on the top, and the elements 楽 and 虫 below. The grass radical represents plants or herbs, while 楽 conveys use or benefit, and 虫 relates to insects or pests. Together, they express the idea of using plants to treat or benefit living things. From this, 薬 came to mean medicine, drug, or remedy.
薬 shows plants used for benefit or treatment, meaning medicine or drug.
薬 is used when referring to medicine or remedies made from plants. Remember 薬 as herbs or plants used to heal or help people or living things.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 薬 | くすり | medicine, pharmaceuticals, (legal) drugs, pill, ointment, salve | common JLPT-N5 Noun |
| 薬 | やく | dope, narcotic, drug | Noun |
| 薬局 | やっきょく | pharmacy, drugstore, chemist's (shop) | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 薬指 | くすりゆび | ring finger, third finger, fourth finger (esp. in piano-playing) | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 薬品 | やくひん | medicine, chemicals | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 薬缶 | やかん | kettle | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 薬剤師 | やくざいし | pharmacist, chemist | common Noun |
| 薬物 | やくぶつ | medicines, drugs | common Noun |
| 薬学 | やくがく | (study of) pharmacy, pharmaceutics | common Noun |
| 薬屋 | くすりや | pharmacy, drugstore, chemist's (shop), apothecary | Noun |