Picking up a prescription

Picking up a prescription in Japan: Japanese at the pharmacy

You and Kenji are colleagues. You came out of the clinic at lunchtime with a prescription, and he's walked you round to the pharmacy next door and sat down with you to wait. Kenji speaks first, in polite Japanese: です and ます, the way people talk with strangers, neighbors, and coworkers. Here is how it can begin, and the phrases and words worth having ready.

politeWith Kenji, at the pharmacy

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How Kenji opens the conversation

Kenji always speaks first. This is the scene's own opening line, with a reply you could give back at the same level:

お薬手帳くすりてちょう、持もっていますか？
Okusuri techō, motte imasu ka?
Do you have your medicine record book?
You could say
いいえ、持もっていません。作つくれますか？
Iie, motte imasen. Tsukuremasu ka?
No, I don't. Can I have one made?

Other ways it can begin

No two conversations go the same way, and the first line changes too. Each of these can open the scene:

粉薬こなぐすりは苦手にがてですか。私わたしは苦手にがてです。
Konagusuri wa nigate desu ka. Watashi wa nigate desu.
Are you bad with powdered medicine? I am.
You could say
私わたしも苦手にがてです。錠剤じょうざいがいいです。
Watashi mo nigate desu. Jōzai ga ii desu.
I'm bad with it too. I prefer tablets.
あそこにマスクが売うっていますよ。
Asoko ni masuku ga utte imasu yo.
They're selling masks over there.
You could say
本当ほんとうですね。一ひとつ買かいます。
Hontō desu ne. Hitotsu kaimasu.
Oh, you're right. I'll buy one.
私わたしも先週せんしゅう、ここで薬くすりをもらいました。
Watashi mo senshū, koko de kusuri o moraimashita.
I got medicine here last week too.
You could say
そうなんですか。風邪かぜですか。
Sō nan desu ka. Kaze desu ka.
Really? Was it a cold?
待まち時間じかんは十分じっぷんぐらいだそうですよ。
Machijikan wa jippun gurai da sō desu yo.
They say the wait is about ten minutes.
You could say
よかったです。早はやいですね。
Yokatta desu. Hayai desu ne.
Oh good. That's fast.
お薬くすりは食後しょくごですか、食前しょくぜんですか。
Okusuri wa shokugo desu ka, shokuzen desu ka.
Is your medicine after meals, or before?
You could say
たぶん食後しょくごだと思おもいます。
Tabun shokugo da to omoimasu.
After meals, I think.

Phrases worth knowing here

Lines for what you do at the pharmacy, each with when you'd say it.

お薬くすり手帳てちょうはお持もちですか。Okusuri techō wa omochi desu ka.Do you have your medication booklet?What the pharmacy staff asks when you hand over the prescription; Kenji may check with you first.
ジェネリックでお願ねがいします。Jenerikku de onegai shimasu.The generic version, please.Answer at the counter when they ask if a generic is okay.
この薬くすり、眠ねむくなりますか。Kono kusuri, nemuku narimasu ka.Does this medicine make you drowsy?Ask the pharmacist when you have to go back to work in the afternoon.
番号ばんごうで呼よばれるみたいですよ。Bangō de yobareru mitai desu yo.It looks like they call you by number.Said while waiting, checking how your turn will be announced.
午後ごごの会議かいぎ、間まに合あいそうですね。Gogo no kaigi, ma ni aisō desu ne.Looks like we'll make it to the afternoon meeting.Small talk with Kenji while waiting, checking the time against work.

Words you'll hear

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
処方箋しょほうせん	shohōsen	prescription (slip)
薬局やっきょく	yakkyoku	pharmacy
薬剤師やくざいし	yakuzaishi	pharmacist
お薬くすり手帳てちょう	okusuri techō	medication record booklet
食後しょくご	shokugo	after meals
一日いちにち三回さんかい	ichinichi sankai	three times a day
副作用ふくさよう	fukusayō	side effect
ジェネリック	jenerikku	generic drug
待まち時間じかん	machijikan	waiting time
番号ばんごう	bangō	number (called at the counter)

How polite to be

polite Here Kenji speaks polite Japanese: です and ます, the way people talk with strangers, neighbors, and coworkers, and the replies suggested to you match the level you'd use back. The guide to keigo explains the three levels, and when each is right.

Try it out loud

In Unsubtitled, Kenji says these lines in their own voice, and answers whatever you say back, typed or dictated, with furigana, romaji, and a translation until you no longer need them.

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More scenes with Kenji

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