Japanese word

毒

Pronunciation

Romajidoku

Meaning

  • nounpoison

Example

このきのこには毒があります。ko no ki no ko ni wa doku ga a ri ma su

This mushroom contains poison.

Illustration for 毒 (poison)

More examples

食品に毒がないか、検査員が確認します。shoku hin ni doku ga na i ka ken sa in ga kaku nin shi ma su

An inspector checks whether the food contains poison.

Core concept

Means a harmful substance that produces a dangerous effect in a living body through ingestion, contact, or injection.

Common phrases

  • 毒があるdoku ga a ru

    contain poison

  • 毒を抜くdoku o nu ku

    remove poison

  • 毒の有無doku no u mu

    presence of poison

Similar words

毒物dokubutsu: A poisonous substance, especially one identified or controlled for safety or legal purposes.
毒素dokuso: A poisonous substance produced by a living organism.
毒薬dokuyaku: A poisonous drug or chemical that can cause serious harm or death.

Definition in Japanese

生物に作用して病気や傷害を引き起こす有害な物質。sei butsu ni sa yō shi te byō ki ya shō gai o hi ki o ko su yū gai na bus shitsu

Word origin

The word 毒 (doku, "poison") is Sino-Japanese and uses the character 毒 with the basic meaning "poison" or "harmful substance."

Usage tips

  • In English, poison generally harms through being eaten or absorbed, whereas venom is delivered directly by an animal such as a snake or spider.

Other meanings

  • venomnoun

Opposites

  • 無毒mudokunonpoisonousnoun

Related words

  • 毒性dokuseitoxicitynoun

Word lists with this word