How to say "poison" in Japanese

• 毒どくJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe general, everyday word covering poison in any sense, including snake or insect venom. Use this in most contexts when you simply mean poison.
  この魚さかなは毒どくがない。↗

  This fish is free from poison.
• 毒薬どくやくCommon
  nounPoison understood as a drug or medicinal substance, with the 薬 element suggesting a pharmaceutical or dose-like character. It suits contexts where the poison takes the form of a drug or administered agent.
• 毒物どくぶつCommon
  nounA poisonous or toxic substance viewed as a material or chemical entity. It has a more formal, technical flavor, fitting legal, scientific, or regulatory contexts rather than everyday talk about poison.
  正まさしく使用しようされると、ある毒物どくぶつは有用ゆうようだとわかるだろう。↗

  Properly used, certain poisons will prove beneficial.

Use 毒 for poison in general, including venom; 毒薬 emphasizes poison as a drug or medicine-like substance; 毒物 is the more technical term for a poisonous substance.

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

• 毒どくpoison
• 毒薬どくやくpoison
• 毒物どくぶつpoisonous substance
• ポイズンpoison
• 毒害どくがいpoison
• 一服盛るいっぷくもるto poison (someone)
• 毒を盛るどくをもるto poison (e.g. food, drink)
• 一服を盛るいっぷくをもるto poison
• 有毒物ゆうどくぶつpoison
• 毒するどくするto be a bad influence (on something)
• 害毒がいどくharm
• 触媒毒しょくばいどく(catalytic) poison