薬

medicine; a substance used to treat, cure, or prevent illness or injury

Etymology

Native Japanese kusuri, written with the kanji 薬, the Japanese simplified form of 藥, borrowed from Chinese for meanings related to medicine.

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Collocations

drug; an illegal or addictive narcotic or stimulant

Etymology

An extended use of 薬, originally meaning a medicinal substance, applied to narcotics or controlled drugs.

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Collocations

a useful lesson, remedy, or corrective experience; something that has a beneficial effect

Etymology

A figurative extension from the sense of medicine as something that cures or improves a condition.

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Collocations