毒 (どく, doku) Japanese meaning: poison

毒 (どく, doku) Japanese meaning: poison | Kotomora

Kanji

毒poison, virus, venom

Related words· 8

害がいN2sense 2
害 is a broad word for harm or damage in general, while 毒 specifically implies a poisonous or toxic quality behind that harm.
悪あく意いN1sense 3
悪意 names the malicious intent directly, while 毒 describes the venomous, biting quality that shows up in words or attitude.
毒どく舌ぜつ sense 4
毒舌 is the full word for sharp, sarcastic speech, while 毒 alone is only an elliptical stand-in for it in casual contexts.
有ゆう毒どくN1
毒 is the plain noun for 'poison/toxin' itself, while 有毒 is the adjective describing something as poisonous.

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毒どく薬やくN1
毒 is the broad, everyday word for poison, toxin, or venom, while 毒薬 specifically means a poisonous drug or substance meant to harm or kill.
毒どく性せい
毒 is the general noun for 'poison' or 'venom' itself, while 毒性 refers to the degree or property of being poisonous.
毒どく素そ
毒 is the broad, everyday word for poison or venom, while 毒素 is the more technical term for a toxin produced by a living organism.
毒どくガス
毒 is the general word for poison in any form, whereas 毒ガス specifically denotes poison in gaseous form.

Opposites

無む毒どく sense 1
無毒 means non-toxic or harmless, the direct opposite of 毒 in its literal sense of a poisonous substance.
薬くすりN5
薬 heals or helps the body, while 毒 harms or poisons it—often contrasted in phrases like 薬にも毒にもなる.

Word family· 122

中ちゅう毒どくN1
poisoning · addiction; hooked on
気きの毒どくN3
pitiful; poor; unfortunate; miserable · sorry to have inconvenienced someone; regrettable; inexcusable
消しょう毒どくN2
disinfection; sterilization
毒

Written forms

毒どくUsage99%
Standard and common kanji spelling for both literal poison and metaphorical harmfulness or malice.
どくUsage1%
ドクUsage<1%

Etymology

Sino-Japanese noun read どく with the standard kanji 毒. The literal meaning is poison, from which the metaphorical senses of harm, malice, and verbal venom naturally extend.

毒どく

Meanings

Usage patterns

Expressions· 14