〜剤(ざい)

ざい

suffix

agent; preparation (suffix)

1. agent; preparation; -ant; -er

Suffix naming a prepared substance that acts on something — a medicine, a cleaning product, an additive, or an industrial chemical. Attached to a noun or verb stem describing what the substance does: 洗(せん)剤(ざい) washes, 接着(せっちゃく)剤(ざい) bonds.

洗(せん)剤(ざい)を切(き)らしてしまった。

I've run out of detergent.

痛(いた)み止(ど)めの錠(じょう)剤(ざい)を飲(の)んだ。

I took a painkiller tablet.

接着(せっちゃく)剤(ざい)が乾(かわ)くまで動(うご)かさないでください。

Please don't move it until the adhesive dries.

この食品(しょくひん)には保存(ほぞん)料(りょう)も着色(ちゃくしょく)料(りょう)も使(つか)われていないが、乾燥(かんそう)剤(ざい)が入(はい)っている。

This food contains no preservatives or coloring, but there is a desiccant packet inside.

Highly productive: once you know the suffix, an unfamiliar 〜剤(ざい) word can usually be decoded from the element in front of it. Note the rendaku — 剤(ざい), not さい.

Compounds

洗(せん)剤(ざい): detergent
錠(じょう)剤(ざい): tablet; pill
接着(せっちゃく)剤(ざい): adhesive; glue
殺虫(さっちゅう)剤(ざい): insecticide
消毒(しょうどく)剤(ざい): disinfectant
乾燥(かんそう)剤(ざい): desiccant
鎮痛(ちんつう)剤(ざい): painkiller
カビ取(と)り剤(ざい): mold remover

Similar words

〜薬(やく): medicine — for drugs named by what they treat (胃(い)薬(ぐすり), 睡眠(すいみん)薬(やく)); 〜剤(ざい) leans toward the prepared form or chemical action
〜料(りょう): agent added to something — 調味(ちょうみ)料(りょう) seasoning, 保存(ほぞん)料(りょう) preservative; used for food additives where 〜剤(ざい) would sound industrial

general

Added 2026.8.31 21:37 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31

30500/30790_zai