preparation / specimen
Loading your saved state.
preparation
A substance prepared for medical or pharmaceutical purposes, for example a medication or a vaccine.
Dieses Präparat ist rezeptpflichtig und nur in der Apotheke erhältlich.
This preparation requires a prescription and is only available at the pharmacy.
'Das Präparat' (preparation/specimen) is derived from the verb 'präparieren' (to prepare). A Präparat is therefore always something that has been carefully prepared or produced for a specific purpose, whether for medicine, science, or cosmetics.
Der Biologe präpariert eine Zelle für die Untersuchung.
The biologist prepares a cell for examination.
The context makes clear what kind of Präparat is meant. Words like 'Arzt' (doctor) or 'Apotheke' (pharmacy) point to a medication, 'Mikroskop' (microscope) or 'Labor' (laboratory) to a scientific object, and 'Haut' (skin) or 'Creme' (cream) to a cosmetic product.
Der Arzt verschrieb mir ein Präparat gegen die Schmerzen.
The doctor prescribed me a preparation for the pain.
In a medical context, a Präparat is often 'eingenommen' (taken), 'verschrieben' (prescribed), or 'entwickelt' (developed). People also speak of a 'rezeptpflichtiges' (prescription-only) or 'pflanzliches' (herbal) Präparat.
Dieses Präparat dürfen Sie nur nach Rücksprache mit Ihrem Arzt einnehmen.
You may take this preparation only after consulting your doctor.
In science, a Präparat is 'hergestellt' (prepared), 'angefertigt' (made), or 'betrachtet' (observed) for an examination. It is often connected with a microscope or an analysis.
Für die Prüfung musste jeder Student ein eigenes Präparat anfertigen.
For the exam, each student had to make their own specimen.
remedy / means
'das Mittel' and 'das Präparat' can both refer to a prepared product for a particular purpose, especially in medicine, pharmacy, or cosmetics. 'Präparat' sounds more technical and more precise: it is something that has been specially produced or prepared, for example a medication, vaccine, or skin cream. 'Mittel' is more general and can also refer to simple products such as cleaning products or products against pests. Learners may confuse the words because a 'Präparat' is often also a 'Mittel'. But not every 'Mittel' is naturally called a 'Präparat'.
In der Apotheke hat sie ein neues Präparat für empfindliche Haut bekommen.
At the pharmacy, she got a new preparation for sensitive skin.
Das Mittel gegen Unkraut darf man nicht in der Nähe des Teichs benutzen.
The weed killer must not be used near the pond.