有毒（ゆうどく、yuudoku）
- toxic

The Japanese word 有毒 (ゆうどく) means "toxic," "poisonous," or "venomous." It describes something that is harmful or capable of causing illness or death when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed. It refers to a substance or thing that contains or produces a toxin. The word carries a serious connotation, indicating the presence of a hazard.

⚫︎ そのキノコは有毒です。 Translation: That mushroom is toxic. ⚫︎ 有毒ガスが漏れました。 Translation: Toxic gas leaked. ⚫︎ 有毒な植物に触らないでください。 Translation: Please don't touch the poisonous plants.

This word is used in various contexts where a substance or object poses a health risk. ⚫︎It's common when discussing chemicals, plants, animals, or substances that can harm living beings. ⚫︎You can use it in formal or informal settings. ⚫︎ It's vital to use this word with caution.

⚫︎ The standard way to write 有毒 is with the kanji 有 (yuu - to have/exist), 毒 (doku - poison), and the reading is ゆうどく in hiragana. ⚫︎ There are no common variations in okurigana for this word.

⚫︎ 毒性のある (dokusei no aru) - toxic; having toxicity ⚫︎ 有害な (yuugai na) - harmful; injurious ⚫︎ 猛毒の (mou doku no) - highly toxic; extremely poisonous

⚫︎ 無毒の (mudoku no) - non-toxic ⚫︎ 安全な (anzen na) - safe ⚫︎ 無害な (mugai na) - harmless

その湖の水は有毒物質を含んでいる可能性がある。 ・Translation: The water in that lake might contain toxic substances. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the potential for toxic elements in the lake water, emphasizing the danger it poses.

その生物は有毒な牙を持っている。 ・Translation: That creature has poisonous fangs. ・Explanation: This describes an animal having fangs that inject poison, which is a key trait of being 有毒.

The word 有毒 is formed from the kanji 有 (yuu) meaning "to have" or "to exist," and 毒 (doku) meaning "poison." Therefore, 有毒 literally translates to "having poison" or "containing poison." This etymology directly reflects the meaning of the word.