Japanese word

農薬

Pronunciation

Romajinōyaku

Meaning

  • nounpesticide

Example

農家は農薬の使用を減らしています。nō ka wa nō yaku no shi yō o he ra shi te i ma su

Farmers are reducing their use of pesticides.

Illustration for 農薬 (pesticide)

More examples

使用前に、農薬のラベルをよく読みます。shi yō mae ni nō yaku no ra be ru o yo ku yo mi ma su

Before using a pesticide, read its label carefully.

Core concept

Refers to a substance applied to crops or their surroundings to control organisms that can reduce agricultural production.

Common phrases

  • 農薬をまくnō yaku o ma ku

    spray pesticides

  • 農薬を希釈するnō yaku o ki shaku su ru

    dilute pesticides

  • 農薬のラベルnō yaku no ra be ru

    pesticide label

Similar words

殺虫剤satchūzai: A substance used to kill insects that damage crops or stored products.
除草剤josōzai: A substance used to control unwanted plants in fields and other growing areas.
殺菌剤sakkinzai: A substance used to control fungi and other disease-causing organisms on plants.

Definition in Japanese

農作物を害虫や病気、雑草などから守るために使う薬剤。nō saku butsu o gai chū ya byō ki zas sō na do ka ra mamo ru ta me ni tsuka u yaku zai

Word origin

The Japanese compound 農薬 (nōyaku) consists of 農 (nō, "agriculture") and 薬 (yaku, "drug" or "medicine"), giving it the sense of a pesticide used in farming.

Usage tips

  • In English, pesticide is an umbrella term that includes insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, so it covers more than substances used against insects.

Word lists with this word