noun
Historical term for a person who sells crude drugs and traditional medicines, especially in the Edo period. Not used for modern pharmacists.
江戸時代、薬種屋は漢方薬の原料を扱っていた。
In the Edo period, apothecaries dealt in raw materials for Chinese medicine.
noun
Historical term for a shop selling crude drugs and traditional medicines. Modern pharmacies are usually called 薬局 or ドラッグストア.
古い町並みに、かつての薬種屋の看板が残っている。
In the old townscape, a signboard of a former pharmacy remains.
Modern drugstore selling medicines, cosmetics, and daily goods. 薬種屋 is an Edo-period term with a narrower, traditional focus.
Compound of 薬種 (yakushu, 'crude drug' or 'medicinal ingredient') and 屋 (ya, 'shop' or 'dealer'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term was commonly used in the Edo period for traditional medicine dealers.