pharmacology
The scientific study of drugs and their effects on living organisms. Used in academic, medical, and pharmaceutical contexts.
He is majoring in pharmacology at university.
Knowledge of pharmacology is essential for developing new drugs.
psychopharmacology
Compound of 薬 (yaku, 'medicine, drug') + 理 (ri, 'principle, logic') + 学 (gaku, 'study, science'). The term is a direct calque from Western pharmacology, combining these Sino-Japanese elements.