薬
medicine · chemical · enamel · gunpowder · benefit
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of grass and comfort. Grass that brings comfort.
Symbolism
Medicine, pharmaceutical, poison. Represents treatment and chemistry.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Preparing medicine
Component Breakdown
grass + 楽
Words & Expressions
Words written with 薬
Four-Character Compounds
二股膏薬
ふたまたこうやく
double-dealer; timeserver; moving back and forth between two sides in a conflict
内股膏薬
うちまたこうやく
double-dealer; fence-sitter; timeserver
自家薬籠
じかやくろう
(something that is) available for use at any time; (someone who is) at one's beck and call; (something over which) one has complete mastery
薬九層倍
くすりくそうばい
there is a huge markup in medicines, making it a profitable field; medicines sell for ten times the cost of their ingredients
薬石無効
やくせきむこう
neither medicines nor medical care having little effect on a patient
Proverbs & Idioms
良薬は口に苦し
りょうやくはくちににがし
Good medicine tastes bitter
Good advice is hard to hear
Anime & Manga
薬屋のひとりごと
The Apothecary Diaries
'Apothecary' is the protagonist's profession. Mystery solving with pharmaceutical knowledge in the imperial harem.
異世界薬局
Parallel World Pharmacy
A well-known work with 薬 in its Japanese title.
チート薬師のスローライフ～異世界に作ろうドラッグストア～
Drug Store in Another World - The Slow Life of a Cheat Pharmacist
A well-known work with 薬 in its Japanese title.
ダンジョンに出会いを求めるのは間違っているだろうかⅡ 無人島に薬草を求めるのは間違っているだろうか
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? II: Is It Wrong to Go Searching for Herbs on a Deserted Island?
A well-known work with 薬 in its Japanese title.
ボロボロのエルフさんを幸せにする薬売りさん
Boroboro no Elf-san wo Shiawase ni Suru Kusuriuri-san
A well-known work with 薬 in its Japanese title.
Games
ポケットモンスター
Pokémon(1996)
Developer: Game Freak
Healing items like 'Potion' are important game elements.
View on Amazon →Other kanji with the same meaning
“medicine”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 薬 mean in Japanese?
薬 means medicine, chemical, enamel, gunpowder, benefit.
How do you read 薬?
On'yomi: ヤク (YAKU). Kun'yomi: くすり (kusuri).
How many strokes does 薬 have?
薬 has 16 strokes. Its radical is 艸 (grass).
Is 薬 a good kanji for a tattoo?
薬 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means medicine, chemical, enamel, gunpowder, benefit. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.