剤
dose, medicine, drug
Readings
On'yomi
- ザイ
- スイ
- セイ
Kun'yomi
- かる
- けず.る
Meaning
剤 centers on a measured amount of a medicinal substance: a dose of medicine or a drug. The idea of a prepared, cut portion connects the meanings.
Most common words using 剤
20 of 333- 剤ざい
medicine; agent; (chemical) substance; drug; dose
- 薬剤師やくざいしN1
pharmacist; chemist
- 洗剤せんざいN3
detergent; cleanser; cleaning agent; washing material
- 薬剤やくざい
medicine; drug
- 錠剤じょうざい
pill; lozenge; tablet
- 製剤せいざい
formulation (of pharmaceuticals); preparation; pharmaceutical production
- 覚醒剤かくせいざいN1
stimulant (e.g. psychoactive drugs like methamphetamine, ritalin, etc.)
- 調剤ちょうざい
making up a prescription; dispensing a prescription; preparing a medicine
- 溶剤ようざい
solvent; solution; flux
- 下剤げざい
laxative; purgative; evacuant
- 乳化剤にゅうかざい
emulsifier
- 栄養剤えいようざい
nutrient; nutritional supplement; nutritional tonic
- 解熱剤げねつざい
fever medicine; antipyretic; antifebrile
- 抗がん剤こうがんざい
anticancer drug; anticancer agent
- 整腸剤せいちょうざい
medicine for treating digestive disorders (e.g. antidiarrheals, probiotics); gastrointestinal drug
- 殺鼠剤さっそざい
rat poison; rodenticide
- 液剤えきざい
liquid medicine
- 鉄剤てつざい
(medicinal) iron preparations
- 抗ヒスタミン剤こうヒスタミンざい
antihistamine
- 殺虫剤さっちゅうざい
insecticide; pesticide
Study
Etymology
剤 is the modern simplified form of 劑. The older form combines 刀 (knife) with 齊 (even, uniform), suggesting cutting and preparing a uniform mixture, which fits the idea of a measured medicinal dose.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 斉 suggests something even or uniform, and the right side 刂 is a knife. Imagine a pharmacist using a knife to cut and prepare an even dose of medicine.
Reading mnemonic
For ザイ, picture a pharmacist measuring out a dose of medicine and saying 'This is the exact size (サイズ) you need.' The 'size' sound cues ザイ.