Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "とおく" vs "薬"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
とおく
とおく (tooku)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
薬
くすり (kusuri)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both とおく and 薬 are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
とおく (とおく (tooku)) represents "far, distant" (Level: N5) and typically represents Describes distance. Opposite of ちかく.
On the other hand, 薬 (くすり (kusuri)) translates to "medicine" (Level: N5) and is used for A substance taken to treat illness, relieve symptoms, or maintain health. The common verb for 'taking medicine' is 薬を飲む. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "とおく"
わたしの家は会社から遠いです。
My house is far from the office.
Bilingual Sentence for "薬"
風邪を引いたので、薬を飲みました。
I caught a cold, so I took some medicine.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "わたしの家は会社から遠いです。" (Meaning: "My house is far from the office.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "とおく" fits here because it represents "far, distant" in the context: "My house is far from the office.".