毒
poison, virus, venom, germ, harm, injury, spite
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
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!'