薬

Kanji

 * 1) medicine, drug
 * 2) chemical

Compounds

 * : gunpowder
 * , : placebo
 * : expectorant
 * : explosive, explosive compound, blasting powder
 * : an aphrodisiac
 * : an antidote
 * : gunpowder
 * , : placebo
 * : expectorant
 * : explosive, explosive compound, blasting powder
 * : an aphrodisiac
 * : an antidote
 * , : placebo
 * : expectorant
 * : explosive, explosive compound, blasting powder
 * : an aphrodisiac
 * : an antidote
 * : explosive, explosive compound, blasting powder
 * : an aphrodisiac
 * : an antidote
 * : an antidote

Etymology 1
From. Cognate with the kusu root of adjective, from the way that drugs and medicines would have mystical effects.

Affix

 * 1) a medicine or drug

Usage notes
Only used in compounds.

Derived terms

 * : to treat someone or something using medicines or drugs
 * : to treat someone or something using medicines or drugs
 * : a medicine or drug
 * : an unmarried young woman serving at the imperial court who tastes the ceremonial spiced sake at New Years
 * : a doctor
 * : archaic alternate for : the ring finger
 * : an ornamental scented ball made of flowers or other aromatics, displayed in early May
 * : during the Heian period, the consultation office of the court physician
 * ,, : pine sap boiled in oil to make a strong resin used to reinforce bowstrings and other things
 * , : a string with kusune applied to it
 * , : the camphor tree

Etymology 2
From. Derivation from kusu above. Appears to be the of unattested verb kusuru “to have a mystical effect”.

Noun

 * 1) a substance with mystical properties, especially one that has an effect on the body, health, or lifespan
 * 2) a medicine or drug, a pharmaceutical
 * 3) a chemical, generally toxic and used for its effect on living organisms, such as insecticide or herbicide
 * 4) a substance that has a beneficial effect in improving or maintaining one's health
 * 5)  something that has a beneficial effect in correcting one's mistakes
 * 6)  a glaze or enamel applied to ceramics
 * 7) gunpowder (from the “mystical substance” sense, and the second character in the word )
 * 8)  a small bribe

Usage notes
The medicine sense is probably the most common in modern Japanese.

Derived terms

 * : an unmarried young woman serving at the imperial court who tastes the ceremonial spiced sake at New Years
 * : a doctor

Etymology 3
From. Compare modern 🇨🇬.

Noun

 * 1)  a medicine or drug, especially a narcotic or other recreational drug

Usage notes
The slang meaning is generally limited to when the term yaku is used as a standalone noun. In compounds, yaku refers more generally to pharmaceuticals, or sometimes chemicals.

Derived terms

 * : a liquid medicine
 * : a field or garden for cultivating medicinal plants, especially during the Edo period
 * : harm caused by a medicine or drug
 * : pharmacology, the study of pharmacy
 * : a pharmacologist
 * : a pharmacy, a pharmacist's office