Japanese Pharmacy Phrases: Medicine, Dosage and Allergies

If you need Japanese pharmacy phrases, the safest core line is: Kusuri no arerugii ga arimasu / I have a medicine allergy, plus the dosage line Kono kusuri wa ichinichi nani-kai, itsu, nanko desu ka? / How many times a day, when, and how many tablets is this? Japan's official travel and drug-safety sources also emphasize telling the pharmacist about current treatment, medicine and food allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and reading the package insert before use. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)

Key takeaways

Lead with allergies, current medicines, and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding. (pmda.go.jp)
Ask the pharmacist to repeat dosage slowly if you do not understand the instructions. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)
Keep the phrasing short and concrete: medicine name, number of doses per day, timing, and tablets per dose. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)
If you get an out-of-hospital prescription, you usually fill it at a community pharmacy; in-hospital prescriptions are filled in the hospital pharmacy department. (mhlw.go.jp)
When in doubt, show the written sentence to the pharmacist and ask them to write the answer down. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)

What to say first

At a Japanese pharmacy, the most useful opening is not a long sentence. Say what you need, then give the safety information that affects what medicine is safe for you. Official patient guidance from PMDA says to tell the pharmacist about any ongoing treatment, medicines or health foods you are already using, and any medicine or food allergies. (pmda.go.jp)

Use these first lines:

Kusuri o kudasai. - Please give me medicine.
Kaze-gusuri wa arimasu ka? - Do you have cold medicine?
Eigo no setsumei wa arimasu ka? - Do you have English instructions?
Yukkuri itte kudasai. - Please say it slowly. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)

If you are at a pharmacy attached to a clinic or hospital, the prescription process may differ depending on whether it is an out-of-hospital or in-hospital prescription. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare explains that in-hospital prescriptions are filled at the hospital pharmacy department. (mhlw.go.jp)

Phrases for medicine and dosage

The single most useful dosage line in Japanese is the one the official tourist handbook gives for pharmacies: Kono kusuri wa ichinichi ___ kai, (shokuzen / shokugo / shokkan / shukumae) ni, sorezore ___ kachou fukuyou shite kudasai. In the handbook's English, this means the medicine should be taken a certain number of times a day, before meals, after meals, between meals, or before sleep, with a set number of tablets each time. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)

Here is a practical version you can use:

Japanese	Romaji	English
この薬は1日何回ですか。	Kono kusuri wa ichinichi nankai desu ka?	How many times a day is this medicine?
食前ですか、食後ですか。	Shokuzen desu ka, shokugo desu ka?	Is it before meals or after meals?
1回何錠ですか。	Ikkai nanjyo desu ka?	How many tablets per dose?
何日分ですか。	Nan-nichibun desu ka?	How many days does this cover?
眠くなりますか。	Nemuku narimasu ka?	Will it make me sleepy?
この薬は飲み薬ですか。	Kono kusuri wa nomigusuri desu ka?	Is this an oral medicine?

The official handbook also gives examples of medicine types such as liquid medicine, tablets, powdered medicine, ointment, eye drops, and hot or cold compresses. That makes it easier to identify the form you were handed if the pharmacist switches languages or writes the label by hand. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)

Phrases for allergies and current medicines

For high-stakes pharmacy conversations, allergy language matters most. The JTNO handbook gives the basic line (Koseibusshitsu / asupirin / ___) ni arerugii ga arimasu - I am allergic to antibiotics, aspirin, or the item you fill in. It also gives the simpler pattern ___ ni arerugii ga arimasu - I am allergic to ___. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)

Use these phrases:

Kusuri no arerugii ga arimasu. - I have a medicine allergy.
Shokuhin no arerugii ga arimasu. - I have a food allergy.
Ima kusuri o nonde imasu. - I am currently taking medicine.
Hoka ni tsukatte iru kusuri ga arimasu. - I am using another medicine.
Ninshin shite imasu. - I am pregnant.
Junyuu chu desu. - I am breastfeeding.

PMDA specifically says people who are under treatment, pregnant, breastfeeding, or have medicine or food allergies should consult a pharmacist, because some medicines should not be used together or may be unsuitable for certain conditions. (pmda.go.jp)

What the pharmacist may ask you

Be ready for a few short questions in Japanese. The official tourist handbook includes Are you on any medication? and Have you had any operations lately? in the doctor section, and also prompts the user to state allergies. That means the same safety questions may come up before a pharmacist hands over medicine or confirms the prescription. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)

Common questions and likely answers:

Ima nani ka chiryou o ukete imasu ka? - Are you receiving any treatment now?
Ima kusuri o nonde imasu ka? - Are you taking any medicine now?
Kusuri ya tabemono no arerugii wa arimasu ka? - Do you have any medicine or food allergies? (pmda.go.jp)

If you do not understand, say:

Nihongo ga wakarimasen. - I do not understand Japanese.
Mou ichido onegaishimasu. - Please say it again.
Koko ni kaite kudasai. - Please write it here. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)

A simple pharmacy conversation

Here is a natural, short exchange you can actually use.

You: Kusuri o onegaishimasu. Arerugii ga arimasu.
Please give me medicine. I have allergies.

Pharmacist: Dono kusuri ni arerugii ga arimasu ka?
What medicine are you allergic to?

You: Penisurin to aspirin ni arerugii ga arimasu. Ima hoka no kusuri o nonde imasu.
I am allergic to penicillin and aspirin. I am taking another medicine now.

Pharmacist: Kono kusuri wa ichinichi san-kai, shokugo ni ichikai, ikkai ni ichijyo desu.
This medicine is three times a day, after meals, one tablet each time. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)

If you want a more general speaking drill for service counters, see Japanese Customer Service Phrases for Shops and Support. If your issue is a prescription pickup, Japanese Bank Phrases: Accounts, Transfers and Cash Cards is not relevant, but Japanese Apology Phrases: Sumimasen, Gomen and Moushiwake helps when you need to interrupt politely. Those links are useful because pharmacy talk often overlaps with service-counter etiquette. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)

Checklist and safety notes

Say whether you have a medicine allergy, a food allergy, or both. (pmda.go.jp)
State any medicine you are already taking, including non-prescription products and health foods. (pmda.go.jp)
Ask for dosage in plain terms: times per day, timing, and tablets per dose. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)
Ask the pharmacist to write it down if you cannot follow the spoken instructions. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)
Read the package insert before use and stop if symptoms worsen or you feel unwell. PMDA advises using medicines according to directions and consulting a medical institution if symptoms do not improve or adverse effects occur. (pmda.go.jp)

A small but important note: PMDA says the Japanese package insert is the official document, and English translations are only reference material. If there is any difference, the Japanese version prevails. That is why it is safer to verify the label, not just rely on an English handout. (pmda.go.jp)

How we researched

We used current official and primary sources: a JNTO tourist language handbook for real pharmacy and medical phrases, PMDA patient-safety guidance on medicines and allergies, PMDA's package-insert pages, and a Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare explanation of prescription handling in Japan. This article is an editorial language resource, not a medical diagnosis or prescribing guide. (partners-pamph.jnto.go.jp)

If you want to practice these lines out loud, SoraSpeak includes short spoken sessions that can help you rehearse the phrases before you go. For more structured practice, you can also review SoraSpeak pricing or Start free Japanese speaking practice.

Sources

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FAQ

What is the most important Japanese phrase to say at a pharmacy if I have allergies?

Kusuri no arerugii ga arimasu (I have a medicine allergy) is the most important safety phrase, followed by any specific drug names you know.

How do I ask for dosage in Japanese?

Ask: Kono kusuri wa ichinichi nankai desu ka (How many times a day is this medicine?), Shokuzen desu ka, shokugo desu ka (before or after meals?), and Ikkai nanjyo desu ka (How many tablets per dose?).

Should I tell the pharmacist about other medicines I take?

Yes. PMDA advises telling the pharmacist about any medicine you are already taking, including ongoing treatment and health foods, because of interaction risks.

What should I do if I do not understand the instructions?

Say Nihongo ga wakarimasen (I do not understand Japanese), Mou ichido onegaishimasu (Please say it again), or Koko ni kaite kudasai (Please write it here).

Are English package inserts enough to rely on?

They are useful, but PMDA says the Japanese package insert is the official document and any English translation is reference material only.