How to say "junkie" in Japanese

• ジャンキーCommon
  nounA direct loanword meaning a drug addict. As the common word, it is the usual choice for 'junkie', whether in conversation or writing about someone dependent on drugs.
• ヤク中やくちゅう
  nounA colloquial, less common term that can mean the drug addiction itself as well as the addict. Suited to informal speech when referring to someone's drug dependence.
• 中毒者ちゅうどくしゃ
  nounA broader term covering an addict or substance abuser generally; it can render 'junkie' but is less common for that, and may not clearly imply drugs without context.
  その中毒ちゅうどく者しゃは麻薬まやくの過剰摂取かじょうせっしゅで死しんだ。↗

  The addict died from a drug overdose.
• 麻薬中毒者まやくちゅうどくしゃ
  nounAn explicit way to say 'drug addict', less common than the loanword. Use it when you want to state plainly that someone is addicted to drugs.

Use 「ジャンキー」, the common loanword, when you simply mean a drug addict; 「ヤク中」 is a colloquial alternative, 中毒者 is a broader term for addicts, and 麻薬中毒者 states drug addiction explicitly.

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

• ジャンキーjunkie (drug addict)
• ヤク中やくちゅうdrug addiction
• 中毒者ちゅうどくしゃaddict
• 麻薬中毒者まやくちゅうどくしゃdrug addict