Translation guide
In Japanese, the word for 'pharmacy' depends on whether you mean a drugstore that sells over-the-counter medicine and daily goods, a dispensary that fills prescriptions, or the science of pharmacy. The most common everyday term is 薬局 (yakkyoku), but ドラッグストア (doraggu sutoa) is used for chain drugstores. Be careful: 薬屋 (kusuriya) is an older, informal word that can sound outdated.
A store where you can buy over-the-counter medicine, health products, and often daily necessities like cosmetics and snacks.
The standard word for a pharmacy or drugstore. It can refer to both a dispensary and a store selling OTC medicine. Often used in signs and official names.
近くの薬局で風邪薬を買った。
I bought cold medicine at a nearby pharmacy.
Loanword from English, used for chain drugstores that sell a wide range of daily goods, cosmetics, and food in addition to medicine. Very common in casual conversation.
ドラッグストアでシャンプーを買った。
I bought shampoo at the drugstore.
Literally 'medicine shop'. An older, more informal term. It can sound quaint or old-fashioned. Still understood, but 薬局 or ドラッグストア are preferred in modern speech.
May sound like a small, traditional shop rather than a modern pharmacy.
昔ながらの薬屋がまだある。
There is still an old-fashioned pharmacy.
A place, often inside a hospital or clinic, where prescriptions are filled and you receive prescribed medication.
Specifically a pharmacy that dispenses prescription medicine. Often located next to or inside a clinic. The sign will usually say 調剤薬局.
病院の隣の調剤薬局で薬をもらった。
I got my medicine at the dispensing pharmacy next to the hospital.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'a pharmacy that accepts prescriptions'. Useful when asking for directions or clarifying.
処方箋を受け付ける薬局はどこですか？
Where is a pharmacy that accepts prescriptions?
Can also mean a dispensary in context, especially when inside a hospital. However, to be clear, 調剤薬局 is better.
The study or profession of preparing and dispensing medicines.
The academic field of pharmacy or pharmaceutical sciences. Used in university department names.
彼女は薬学を勉強している。
She is studying pharmacy.
More specifically pharmaceutics, the science of dosage form design. Technical term.
薬局 (yakkyoku) is the general term for a pharmacy, often with a prescription counter. ドラッグストア (doraggu sutoa) is a chain drugstore with a wider variety of non-medical products. 薬屋 (kusuriya) is an older, more traditional term and may not have a prescription service.
Look for signs that say 薬局 (yakkyoku) or ドラッグストア (doraggu sutoa). If you need a prescription filled, look for 調剤薬局 (chōzai yakkyoku) or ask for 処方箋を受け付ける薬局 (shohōsen o uketsukeru yakkyoku).
病院内の薬局で待っている。
I'm waiting at the pharmacy inside the hospital.
薬剤学の講義は難しい。
Pharmaceutics lectures are difficult.