A semi-solid medicinal preparation applied to the skin. Often used in medical or pharmaceutical contexts. Compare with 硬膏 (plaster).
See also: 硬膏
医者から軟膏を処方された。
The doctor prescribed an ointment for me.
傷口に軟膏を塗ってください。
Please apply the ointment to the wound.
eye ointment
ointment; salve
zinc oxide ointment
Compound of 軟 (soft) and 膏 (paste, ointment). The kanji 膏 is not in the jōyō list, so the word is sometimes written as 軟こう.