毒薬

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 毒薬 is read どくやく.
• Basic usage: It refers to poison or a toxic substance that can harm people or other living things.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Actual contents
  • 毒薬の入った瓶 means a bottle containing poison.
• A labeled prop
  • 毒薬と書かれた瓶 means a bottle labeled “poison,” regardless of what it actually contains.