A Guide to Buying Cold and Flu Medicine in Japan

A guide to buying cold and flu medicine in Japan
Arriving in Japan with a cold and not knowing how to buy medicine is hard going, which is why learning the necessary Japanese words matters.
For everyday complaints such as a cold, a headache, a runny nose, a cough or dizziness …, you may not need to go to hospital at all: you can simply buy over-the-counter medicine at a pharmacy.

1. 熱（ねつ）/ 発熱（はつねつ）: fever

2. 鎮痛（ちんつう）/ 痛み止め（いたみどめ）: pain relief

3. 鎮痛剤（ちんつうざい）/ 痛み止め (いたみどめ): painkiller

4. 風邪(かぜ): cold, flu

5. 総合（そうごう）かぜ薬: cold and flu medicine

6. のどが痛い ・ のどの痛み: sore throat

7. 咳（せき）: cough

8. たん：phlegm

9 せき止め薬 (せきどめくすり): cough medicine

10. 去たん・去痰 (きょたん) : expectorant

11. 鼻水（はなみず）: runny nose

12. 鼻づまり (はなづまり): blocked nose

13. くしゃみ: sneeze

14. 頭痛 （づつう）: headache

15. 点鼻薬 （てんびやく）・点鼻液: nasal drops

16. のどスプレー: throat spray

17. 錠 （じょう）: tablet

18. カプセル: capsule

19. 液 (えき） ・ シロップ: liquid medicine / syrup

20. 包（ほう/ ぽう/つつみ）: sachet (powdered medicine)

See also:
Japanese Vocabulary for Medical Instruments
Japanese Vocabulary for the Medical Field