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Kotomora

毒

poison, virus, venom, germ, harm, injury, spite

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • ドク

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

毒 centers on a harmful substance or influence that damages health or well-being: poison, venom, germs, or malicious spite.

Most common words using 毒

20 of 239
  • 毒どく
    N3

    poison; toxicant

  • 中毒ちゅうどく
    N1

    poisoning

  • 気の毒きのどく
    N3

    pitiful; unfortunate; poor; miserable; wretched

  • 消毒しょうどく
    N2

    disinfection; sterilization; sterilisation

  • 毒性どくせい

    toxicity; virulence

  • 食中毒しょくちゅうどく
    N1

    food poisoning

  • 毒素どくそ

    toxin; poisonous substance

  • 梅毒ばいどく

    syphilis

  • 毒ガスどくガス

    poison gas

  • 有毒ゆうどく
    N1

    poisonous; toxic

  • 毒舌どくぜつ

    wicked tongue; sharp tongue; abusive language

  • 毒物どくぶつ

    poisonous substance; toxic substance; poison

  • 毒殺どくさつ

    killing by poisoning; killing with poison; poisoning (to death)

  • 猛毒もうどく

    deadly poison

  • 解毒げどく

    detoxification; counteracting poison; neutralizing poison

  • 毒薬どくやく
    N1

    poison

  • 毒蛇どくじゃ

    venomous snake; poisonous snake

  • 無毒むどく

    nonpoisonous; nontoxic; harmless

  • 毒牙どくが

    poison fang

  • 毒気どっき

    poisonous air; poisonous gas; poisonous vapour

Explore all words using 毒 →

Study

Etymology

毒 is traditionally explained as combining 龶 (a plant or sprout) with 母 (mother), suggesting a harmful plant or substance. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the idea of a poisonous plant is a common interpretation.

Meaning mnemonic

A sprouting plant (龶) above a mother (母) suggests a mother plant that is poisonous. Imagine a beautiful but deadly plant that harms anyone who touches it.

Reading mnemonic

For ドク, imagine a doctor (ドクター) warning you about a poisonous plant: 'Doc' (ドク) says, 'Don't touch that plant—it's poison!'