処 方 箋(しょほうせん)

しょほうせん

noun

prescription

1. prescription

A written order from a doctor specifying medicine to be dispensed by a pharmacist. In Japan, prescriptions are typically taken to a separate pharmacy rather than filled at the hospital.

医者(いしゃ)に処方箋(しょほうせん)を書(か)いてもらった。

The doctor wrote me a prescription.

処方箋(しょほうせん)を薬局(やっきょく)に持(も)っていく。

I take the prescription to the pharmacy.

処方箋(しょほうせん)なしでは買(か)えない薬(くすり)もある。

Some medicines cannot be bought without a prescription.

処方箋(しょほうせん)の有効期限(ゆうこうきげん)は4日間(かかん)です。

Prescriptions are valid for 4 days.

Composition: 処方(しょほう) (formulation, prescription) + 箋(せん) (slip, tag)

Japanese healthcare system

In Japan, clinics and hospitals usually do not dispense medicine directly. Instead, patients receive a 処方箋(しょほうせん) and take it to a nearby 調剤薬局(ちょうざいやっきょく) (dispensing pharmacy).

Key terms

処方箋(しょほうせん)薬(やく) - prescription medicine
市販薬(しはんやく)/OTC薬(やく) - over-the-counter medicine
調剤薬局(ちょうざいやっきょく) - dispensing pharmacy
院内処方(いんないしょほう) - in-hospital dispensing
院外処方(いんがいしょほう) - out-of-hospital dispensing

Validity: Prescriptions in Japan expire after 4 days (including the day of issue), so they must be filled promptly.

Common verbs

処方箋(しょほうせん)を書(か)く - to write a prescription
処方箋(しょほうせん)を出(だ)す - to issue a prescription
処方箋(しょほうせん)を持(も)っていく - to take a prescription (to the pharmacy)

Related Words

Related: 処方(しょほう) (base word)

Related: 調剤(ちょうざい) (dispensing medicine)

general

Added 2026.1.18 3:44 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

06000/06496_shohousen