医薬品(いやくひん)

いやくひん
noun
pharmaceutical; medicine; drug
1. pharmaceutical product; medicine; medicinal drug
A substance officially recognized as a medicine for the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of disease. In Japan, this is a regulated legal category distinct from cosmetics or health supplements.
この医薬品(いやくひん)は処方箋(しょほうせん)が必要(ひつよう)です。
A prescription is required for this medicine.
医薬品(いやくひん)の副作用(ふくさよう)に注意(ちゅうい)してください。
Please be aware of the side effects of this medication.
新(あたら)しい医薬品(いやくひん)の開発(かいはつ)には長(なが)い年月(ねんげつ)と多額(たがく)の費用(ひよう)がかかる。
Developing a new pharmaceutical product takes many years and a large amount of money.

Composed of 医(い) (medicine) + 薬(やく) (drug) + 品(ひん) (product). This is the formal, regulated term for medicines, as defined by Japan's Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Act (薬機法(やっきほう)). It is distinct from 医薬部外品(いやくぶがいひん) (quasi-drugs, such as medicated cosmetics) and 健康食品(けんこうしょくひん) (health foods/supplements).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 医薬品(いやくひん)メーカー — pharmaceutical manufacturer
  • 一般用(いっぱんよう)医薬品(いやくひん) — over-the-counter medicine
  • 医療用(いりょうよう)医薬品(いやくひん) — prescription medicine
  • 医薬品(いやくひん)の開発(かいはつ) — drug development

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 薬(くすり) — medicine; the everyday word for medicine or drugs
  • 薬品(やくひん) — chemicals, pharmaceuticals; broader term including non-medical chemicals
  • 製薬(せいやく) — pharmaceutical manufacturing; refers to the industry rather than individual products
general
Added 2026.3.26 23:29
19500/19711_iyakuhin