New here? This is lesson 115 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
At the pharmacy in Japanese
Leo leaves Dr. Ishida's clinic and steps into the pharmacy next door. Goro is too big for the aisle, so he waits outside by the door.
Inside, Leo hands over a prescription and asks for something that will help a fever and a cough.
You will ask whether you need a prescription, say why you need medicine, and check for side effects.
Keep it polite. Shop staff may sound extra formal; you answer in ordinary polite Japanese.
By the end of this lesson
Ask for medicine at a pharmacy and say what you need it for.
- 処方せんが必要ですか。Do I need a prescription?
- ___に効く薬はありますか。Do you have anything for ___?
- 処方せんの薬をもらいに来ました。I'm here to pick up a prescription.
- 熱と咳があります。I have a fever and a cough.
- 副作用はありますか。Are there any side effects?
- 咳止めをください。Cough medicine, please.
Scene — next door at the pharmacy
The pharmacy sits next to Dr. Ishida's clinic on the Yanaka lane. White shelves hold boxes with blank labels. Leo steps in with a paper from the doctor.
Outside, Goro waits by the door with his olive coat and too many pockets. He cannot fit down the aisle.
Learn — ask for medicine
These six lines help you at a Tokyo pharmacy. You ask about a prescription, name a symptom, and request cough medicine.
A blank in one line is for the symptom the medicine should help.
処方せんが必要ですか。
Do I need a prescription?
When to use it: Ask this when you want over-the-counter medicine, not a doctor's paper.
が marks the thing that might be needed, here the prescription.
Say it: Give ん in せん its own beat; do not skip it.
___に効く薬はありますか。
Do you have anything for ___?
When to use it: Ask this when you want medicine for a symptom you name.
に marks what the medicine should help, such as a fever or a cough.
処方せんの薬をもらいに来ました。
I'm here to pick up a prescription.
When to use it: Say this at the counter when you have a doctor's paper.
に after もらい marks the purpose of coming, to pick the medicine up.
熱と咳があります。
I have a fever and a cough.
When to use it: Use this to tell a pharmacist which symptoms you have.
と links two symptoms, like and in a short list.
副作用はありますか。
Are there any side effects?
When to use it: Ask this before you take a new medicine home.
は marks side effects as the topic you are asking about.
咳止めをください。
Cough medicine, please.
When to use it: Use this to ask for cough medicine at the counter.
を marks the medicine you want them to give you.
Story — Goro waits outside
Leo takes Dr. Ishida's paper into the pharmacy. Goro waits outside and later asks if a yak can take the same medicine.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Leo opens the pharmacy door. Goro stays on the step.
- Pharmacistいらっしゃいませ。Welcome.
Leoすみません。Excuse me.- He holds out Dr. Ishida's paper.
- Leo処方せんの薬をもらいに来ました。I'm here to pick up a prescription.
- Pharmacist少々お待ちください。Please wait a moment.
- She reads the paper, then looks back at Leo.
- Pharmacistどうしましたか。What's wrong?
- Leo熱と咳があります。I have a fever and a cough.
- The prescription bag sits on the counter. Leo points at a box on the open shelf.
- Leo熱に効く薬はありますか。Do you have anything for a fever?
- Pharmacistはい、ありますよ。Yes, we do.
- Leo処方せんが必要ですか。Do I need a prescription?
- Pharmacistいいえ、処方せんはいりません。No, you don't need a prescription.
- Leo咳止めをください。Cough medicine, please.
- Leo副作用はありますか。Are there any side effects?
- Pharmacistそうですね、少し眠くなります。Well, it makes you a little sleepy.
- Leoありがとうございます。Thank you.
- Leo steps outside. Goro's horns fill the doorway.
Goroヤクも飲めますか。Can yaks take it too?- Leoええと、わかりません。Um, I don't know.
Practice — pick the right request
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and pick what to say.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Japanese
処方せんが必要ですか。Drop the English here熱と咳があります。Drop the English here副作用はありますか。Drop the English here咳止めをください。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You want medicine that helps a fever. Ask if they have any.
Pick the reply
Pharmacist says:
Pick the reply
どうしましたか。
What's wrong?
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
I'm here to pick up a prescription.
。
Tap the words in order.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
副作用はありますか。
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want the pharmacist to hand you cough medicine.
咳止めを____。
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Do you have anything for ___?
_______効く薬はありますか。
What do you say?
What do you say?
The pharmacist is looking at the shelves. You need her to notice you.
Pick the reply
Pharmacist says:
Pick the reply
はい、どうぞ。
Here you are.
And you reply with:
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
どうしましたか。
Say it — your turn at the counter
You are Leo at the Yanaka pharmacy counter. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.
- Pharmacistいらっしゃいませ。Welcome.
- Leo (you)You brought Dr. Ishida's paper. Say why you came.
You brought Dr. Ishida's paper. Say why you came.
処方せんの薬をもらいに来ました。
I'm here to pick up a prescription.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 処方せんが必要ですか。 | Do I need a prescription? | |
| ___に効く薬はありますか。 | Do you have anything for ___? | |
| 処方せんの薬をもらいに来ました。 | I'm here to pick up a prescription. | |
| 熱と咳があります。 | I have a fever and a cough. | |
| 副作用はありますか。 | Are there any side effects? | |
| 咳止めをください。 | Cough medicine, please. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these pharmacy lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round before a pharmacy visit keeps the counter lines ready.
Open Yak Cards