カンフル

カ

ン

フ

ル

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

Refers to the chemical substance camphor, historically used as a cardiotonic drug.

from Dutch kamfer

Figurative use derived from the historical medical use of camphor as a stimulant; often used in phrases like カンフル剤となる (to serve as a stimulus).

〈事こと〉のカンフル剤ざいとなるto serve as a stimulus/boost for something
その政せい策さくは景気回復けいききかいふくのカンフル剤ざいとなった。
The policy served as a shot in the arm for the economic recovery.
〈人ひと〉にカンフルを打うつto give someone a camphor injection
医い者しゃは患かん者じゃにカンフルを打うった。
The doctor gave the patient a camphor injection.

樟しょう脳のう sense 1
樟脳 is the general chemical name for camphor, while カンフル is the same substance viewed specifically in its historical role as a medicinal stimulant.
起き爆ばく剤ざい sense 2
起爆剤 describes something that triggers a dramatic change or event, while カンフル (as in カンフル剤) more specifically implies an energizing boost to something flagging, like an economy.
刺し激げきN3sense 2
刺激 is the general word for a stimulus of any kind, while カンフル carries the specific image of a revitalizing injection given to something weak or stagnant.

カンフル剤ざい
camphor (as a cardiotonic drug) · shot in the arm; stimulus; impetus
カンフル丁ちん幾き
tincture of camphor
カンフル注ちゅう射しゃ
camphor injection (historical cardiotonic) · shot in the arm; stimulus; impetus

Borrowed from Dutch 'kamfer' (camphor). The figurative sense comes from the outdated medical use of camphor as a cardiac stimulant.