How to say "heroin" in Japanese

Choosing the right word
  • nounThe normal word for the drug heroin, covering its standard sense. Use this in almost any context, from news reports to medical or everyday discussion of the substance.
    彼かれはヘロインの常習者じょうしゅうしゃだ。↗
    He is a heroin addict.
  • 粉こなJLPT N3approx.Common
    nounLiterally 'powder' or 'flour'; as slang it can refer to heroin, but it is a vague, colloquial term and not the usual way to name the drug. ヘロイン is almost always the word you want.

For the drug 'heroin', use 「ヘロイン」, the straightforward term; 粉 is a slang word that only sometimes refers to heroin, so avoid it unless you specifically mean street slang.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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