処方

• Reading: しょほう
• Romaji: shohou
• Kanji breakdown: 処 (sho) — deal with, manage; 方 (hou) — method, direction
• Pronunciation: /ɕo.hoː/

Meaning

Prescription (of medicine); formula. The act of a doctor prescribing medication.

A suru-verb (処方する) used when a doctor writes a prescription. Commonly appears in the compound 処方箋 (shohousen, prescription slip) and the phrase 薬を処方する (to prescribe medicine). An essential word for navigating the Japanese healthcare system.

Examples

1. 医者に風邪の薬を処方してもらった。 The doctor prescribed me some cold medicine.
2. 処方箋を持って薬局に行ってください。 Please take your prescription to the pharmacy.
3. この薬は医師の処方がないと買えない。 You can't buy this medicine without a doctor's prescription.

Usage Guide

Context: hospitals, pharmacies, health

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 処 (sho, to deal with/manage) and 方 (hou, method/direction). Literally 'method of handling,' referring to the prescribed way to treat an illness.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal