消毒薬(しょうどくやく)

しょうどくやく
noun
disinfectant; antiseptic
1. disinfectant; antiseptic
A chemical substance used to kill bacteria and germs on surfaces, wounds, or skin. Includes both liquid antiseptics for wounds and disinfectant solutions for cleaning.
傷口(きずぐち)に消毒薬(しょうどくやく)を塗(ぬ)る。
To apply disinfectant to a wound.
消毒薬(しょうどくやく)で手(て)を拭(ふ)いた。
I wiped my hands with disinfectant.
救急箱(きゅうきゅうばこ)に消毒薬(しょうどくやく)と絆創膏(ばんそうこう)が入(はい)っている。
There is disinfectant and adhesive bandages in the first aid kit.

A practical everyday word that became even more widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic. 消毒(しょうどく) means disinfection/sterilization and 薬(やく) means medicine/chemical agent.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 消毒薬(しょうどくやく)を塗(ぬ)る: to apply disinfectant
  • 消毒薬(しょうどくやく)で拭(ふ)く: to wipe with disinfectant
  • 手指(しゅし)消毒薬(しょうどくやく): hand sanitizer
  • アルコール消毒薬(しょうどくやく): alcohol-based disinfectant

RELATED TERMS:

  • 消毒液(しょうどくえき): disinfectant solution — emphasizes the liquid form
  • 消毒(しょうどく)する: to disinfect, to sterilize
  • 除菌(じょきん): sanitizing, germ removal — a less thorough process than 消毒(しょうどく)
  • 殺菌(さっきん): sterilization — killing bacteria completely
general
Added 2026.4.9 1:30 · Revised 2026.4.10 17:28
23000/23035_shoudokuyaku