抗 菌 薬(こうきんやく)

こうきんやく

noun

antibacterial drug; antibiotic

formalmedicalhealth

1. antibacterial drug; antibiotic medication

A medication used to treat bacterial infections by killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria. The standard medical term in Japanese for what is commonly called an antibiotic.

医師(いし)に抗菌薬(こうきんやく)を処方(しょほう)された。

I was prescribed an antibacterial drug by the doctor.

抗菌薬(こうきんやく)は最後(さいご)まで飲(の)みきることが大切(たいせつ)だ。

It's important to finish the full course of antibiotics.

抗菌薬(こうきんやく)の乱用(らんよう)は耐性菌(たいせいきん)を生(う)む原因(げんいん)になるので、必要(ひつよう)な場合(ばあい)だけ使(つか)うべきだ。

Overuse of antibiotics causes antibiotic-resistant bacteria, so they should only be used when necessary.

Composed of 抗(こう) (anti-, against), 菌(きん) (bacteria, germs), and 薬(やく) (medicine, drug). The formal medical term for antibacterial medications.

In everyday Japanese, 抗生物質(こうせいぶっしつ) (antibiotic, literally "anti-life substance") or the loanword アンチバイオティクス is more commonly used by laypeople, while 抗菌薬(こうきんやく) is preferred in medical and pharmaceutical contexts. Note that 抗菌薬(こうきんやく) specifically targets bacteria, whereas 抗生物質(こうせいぶっしつ) can sometimes refer more broadly to include antifungals.

Common collocations

抗菌薬(こうきんやく)を処方(しょほう)する: to prescribe antibiotics
抗菌薬(こうきんやく)を投与(とうよ)する: to administer antibiotics
抗菌薬(こうきんやく)の耐性(たいせい): antibiotic resistance
広域(こういき)抗菌薬(こうきんやく): broad-spectrum antibiotic

Similar words

抗生物質(こうせいぶっしつ): antibiotic — the more commonly known term in everyday language
殺菌剤(さっきんざい): germicide, disinfectant — kills bacteria but used externally, not as a systemic medication
抗ウイルス薬(やく): antiviral drug — targets viruses, not bacteria

Related Words

Compare: 抗生物質(こうせいぶっしつ) (antibiotic)

Compare: 殺菌剤(さっきんざい) (germicide, disinfectant)

Compare: 抗ウイルス薬(こうういるすやく) (antiviral drug)

general

Added 2026.4.29 23:44 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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