鼻薬(はなぐすり)

はなぐすり
noun
nasal medicine; bribe
spokenwrittenhealthsociety
1. nasal medicine; nose drops; nasal spray
Medicine applied to or through the nose, including nasal drops, sprays, and ointments for treating nasal congestion, allergies, and related conditions.
花粉症(かふんしょう)には鼻薬(はなぐすり)が効(き)く。
Nasal medicine works for hay fever.
医者(いしゃ)に鼻薬(はなぐすり)を処方(しょほう)してもらった。
I had the doctor prescribe nasal medicine for me.
鼻(はな)が詰(つ)まって眠(ねむ)れないので、寝(ね)る前(まえ)に鼻薬(はなぐすり)を使(つか)っている。
My nose is so stuffed I can't sleep, so I use nasal medicine before bed.
2. bribe; hush money; a small sweetener to win someone over
An informal term for a bribe or small payment to win someone's favor. The figurative meaning comes from the image of making someone inhale something pleasant to sway them.
鼻薬(はなぐすり)を効(き)かせて許可(きょか)を取(と)った。
Got the permit by slipping someone a bribe.
役人(やくにん)に鼻薬(はなぐすり)をかがせるなんて、今(いま)の時代(じだい)では通(とお)らない。
Bribing officials is something that wouldn't fly in this day and age.
あの会社(かいしゃ)は審査員(しんさいん)に鼻薬(はなぐすり)を効(き)かせて契約(けいやく)を勝(か)ち取(と)ったという噂(うわさ)がある。
There are rumors that company won the contract by greasing the palms of the reviewers.

Has two distinct meanings: the literal medical sense (nasal medicine) and a figurative sense (bribery). The figurative meaning comes from the image of making someone sniff something pleasant to win them over.

Common collocations

  • 鼻薬(はなぐすり)を効(き)かせる: to grease someone's palm, to bribe (sense 2)
  • 鼻薬(はなぐすり)をかがせる: to slip someone a bribe (sense 2)
  • 鼻薬(はなぐすり)を差(さ)す: to apply nose drops (sense 1)

Similar words

  • 点鼻薬(てんびやく): nasal drops — more formal medical term for nose drops
  • 賄賂(わいろ): bribe — the standard, direct term for a bribe
  • 袖(そで)の下(した): under-the-table payment — another idiomatic expression for a bribe

Related Words

Compare: 賄賂(わいろ) (bribe)
general
Added 2026.4.20 1:29 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
24500/24603_hanagusuri