medicine · dose

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 剤 has ten strokes and the on-reading ざい.
• Basic usage: It appears in names of preparations or substances with a particular function or use.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Beyond medicinal drugs
  • 薬剤(やくざい) refers to chemical preparations and can include chemicals used in gardening or a laboratory.
  • The presence of 剤 does not mean that the substance is a medicine taken by a person.
• The preceding element gives the function
  • 洗剤(せんざい) is a detergent for washing, while 接着剤(せっちゃくざい) is an adhesive for joining things. The complete word identifies the substance's function.