処方箋

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 処方箋(しょほうせん) is a noun for a document containing prescription instructions.
• Basic usage: In the examples, it is the prescription a doctor issues and a patient submits at a pharmacy.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 処方 and 処方箋
  • 処方(しょほう) refers to deciding which medicine to use and how to use it, or to those instructions. 処方箋 focuses on the document containing them, as in 処方箋を提出する.
• Who issues it and who submits it
  • In the example with a doctor as the subject, 処方箋を出した means issuing a prescription. Presenting it at the pharmacy counter is expressed by 処方箋を提出した in the other example.