処方箋

• Reading: しょほうせん
• Romaji: shohousen
• Kanji breakdown: 処 (sho) — deal with; 方 (hou) — method; 箋 (sen) — slip of paper, note
• Pronunciation: /ɕo.hoː.seɴ/

Meaning

Prescription; a written order from a doctor for medicine.

A noun referring to the physical or digital document a doctor issues so a patient can obtain prescribed medication at a pharmacy. In Japan, most prescriptions are filled at external pharmacies (院外薬局) rather than hospital dispensaries. Also used figuratively to mean a remedy or solution for a problem.

Examples

1. 処方箋を持って近くの薬局に行った。 I took the prescription to a nearby pharmacy.
2. 処方箋なしで買える薬もある。 There are also medications you can buy without a prescription.
3. 経済危機に対する処方箋はまだ見つかっていない。 A solution to the economic crisis has yet to be found.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, pharmacy, figurative

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 処方 (shohou, prescription/method of treatment) + 箋 (sen, slip of paper/note). The character 箋 specifically refers to a thin strip or card used for writing, fitting the idea of a written medical order.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal