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Japanese for “Buying medicine at a pharmacy”
You've caught a cold and visit a local pharmacy to buy medicine. The pharmacist asks about your symptoms, whether you have any allergies, and how you want to take the medicine.
Sample dialogue
Pharmacist
いらっしゃいませ。今日はどのようなご用件でしょうか。irasshaimase. kyou wa dono youna go youken deshou ka.
Welcome. What can I help you with today?
You (Customer)
あ、すみません。風邪をひいてしまって、のどが痛いんです。それから、頭も痛いです。a, sumimasen. kaze o hiiteshimatte, nodo ga itai n desu. sorekara, atama mo itai desu.
Um, sorry. I caught a cold. My throat hurts, and I have a headache too.
Pharmacist
そうですか。熱はありますか。sou desu ka. netsu wa arimasu ka.
I see. Do you have a fever?
You (Customer)
ちょっと熱があります。あ、それと、アレルギーがあるんですけど…薬の中にアスピリンが入っていない薬をください。chotto netsu ga arimasu. a, soreto, arerugii ga aru n desu kedo… kusuri no naka ni asupirin ga haitteinai kusuri o kudasai.
I have a slight fever. And I have an allergy—could I please get medicine without aspirin in it?
Pharmacist
かしこまりました。この薬はアスピリンが入っていませんので、大丈夫ですよ。一日に何回飲みますか。kashikomarimashita. kono kusuri wa asupirin ga haitteimasen node, daijoubu desu yo. ichinichi ni nankai nomimasu ka.
Understood. This medicine doesn't contain aspirin, so you're fine. How many times a day should you take it?
You (Customer)
あ、一日に何回飲めばいいですか。a, ichinichi ni nankai nome ba ii desu ka.
Oh, how many times a day should I take it?
Pharmacist
一日三回、朝と昼と夜に飲んでください。それから、この薬は眠くなるかもしれません。運転する時は気をつけてください。tsuitachi sankai, asa to hiru to yoru ni nondekudasai. sorekara, kono kusuri wa nemuku naru kamo shiremasen. unten suru toki wa ki o tsuketekudasai.
Three times a day—morning, noon, and night. Also, this medicine might make you sleepy, so please be careful if you drive.
You (Customer)
わかりました。眠くなるんですね。ありがとうございます。wakarimashita. nemuku naru n desu ne. arigatougozaimasu.
Got it. It might make me sleepy. Thank you.
Phrases you can use
風邪をひいてしまってかぜをひいてしまってkaze o hiiteshimatte
(I) caught a cold
Use this when you're explaining you're sick; the ～てしまって form sounds natural and conversational.
風邪をひいてしまったので、会社をお休みします。kaze o hiiteshimatta node, kaisha o o yasumi shimasu.
I caught a cold, so I'm taking the day off from work.
のどが痛いんですのどがいたいんですnodo ga itai n desu
My throat hurts (emphasizing the problem)
The ～んです structure makes your complaint sound more natural and conversational in Japanese.
頭が痛いんです。atama ga itai n desu.
I have a headache (emphasizing it).
アレルギーがあるんですけどarerugii ga aru n desu kedo
I have an allergy, but… (asking for help)
Use ～けど at the end to politely lead into a request or question; it's softer than a direct statement.
アレルギーがあるんですけど、この薬は大丈夫ですか。arerugii ga aru n desu kedo, kono kusuri wa daijoubu desu ka.
I have an allergy—is this medicine okay for me?
一日に何回飲めばいいですかいちにちになんかいのめばいいですかichinichi ni nankai nome ba ii desu ka
How many times a day should I take it?
Use ～ばいいですか to ask for advice on frequency or timing; it's a polite, practical question.
Casual vs polite
Casual風邪をひいちゃった。kaze o hiichatta.
Polite風邪をひいてしまいました。kaze o hiiteshimaimashita.
Both mean 'I caught a cold.' The casual version is for friends; the polite version is for a pharmacist, doctor, or stranger.
Casualのど、痛い。nodo, itai.
Politeのどが痛いです。nodo ga itai desu.
Both describe a sore throat. Use casual with friends; use polite with staff or people you don't know well.
Casual何回飲めばいい？nankai nome ba ii?
Polite一日に何回飲めばいいですか。ichinichi ni nankai nome ba ii desu ka.
Both ask how many times to take the medicine. Casual is for friends; polite is for a pharmacist or doctor.
Culture tip
In Japanese pharmacies, always mention allergies upfront (アレルギー). Staff will ask questions about your symptoms and whether you're taking other medications. Listen carefully to the dosage instructions (何回, 何時間ごと) and whether the medicine should be taken with food or on an empty stomach. It's polite to say ありがとうございます when receiving medicine, even if you're just buying it.
Ready to say it out loud?
On Tuned you can practice this scene in 3 steps: copy the model, build it up bit by bit, then role-play with an AI partner — at your level.