Japanese word

抗生物質

Pronunciation

Romajikōseibusshitsu

Meaning

  • nounantibiotic

Example

医師は抗生物質を処方しました。i shi wa kō sei bus shitsu o sho hō shi ma shi ta

The doctor prescribed an antibiotic.

Illustration for 抗生物質 (antibiotic)

More examples

ウイルスによる病気には抗生物質は効きません。u i ru su ni yo ru byō ki ni wa kō sei bus shitsu wa ki ki ma se n

Antibiotics do not work against illnesses caused by viruses.

Core concept

Describes a substance that acts against microorganisms by stopping their growth or destroying them.

Common phrases

  • 抗生物質を服用するkō sei bus shitsu o fuku yō su ru

    take antibiotics

  • 抗生物質が必要だkō sei bus shitsu ga hitsu yō da

    need antibiotics

  • 抗生物質を処方するkō sei bus shitsu o sho hō su ru

    prescribe an antibiotic

Similar words

抗菌薬kōkinyaku: A medicine that kills bacteria or stops them from growing in the body.
抗生剤kōseizai: A common shortened term for a medicine used to treat bacterial infections.

Definition in Japanese

細菌などの微生物の増殖を抑えたり死滅させたりする物質で、感染症の治療に用いるもの。sai kin na do no bi sei butsu no zō shoku o osa e ta ri shi metsu sa se ta ri su ru bus shitsu de kan sen shō no chi ryō ni mochi i ru mo no

Word origin

The Japanese compound 抗生物質 (kōseibusshitsu) combines 抗 (kō, "oppose"), 生 (sei, "life"), and 物質 (busshitsu, "substance") to name a substance that acts against living microorganisms.

Usage tips

  • In English, antibiotic usually refers to a medicine for bacterial infections, so it does not treat viruses such as those causing colds or influenza.

Word lists with this word