medicine

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 薬 is read くすり, has 16 strokes, and relates to medicine.
• Basic usage: 薬 is read くすり, and 薬局 is read やっきょく.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 薬 and 薬局
  • 薬 means medicine.
  • 食後に医師からもらった薬を飲んだ。 means “I took the medicine prescribed by the doctor after eating.”
  • 薬局 means pharmacy or drugstore.
  • 病院の帰りに薬局で薬を受け取った。 means “On the way back from the hospital, I picked up my medicine at the pharmacy.”