Translation guide
The organ that stores urine. In Japanese, the primary term is 膀胱 (ぼうこう), used in both medical and everyday contexts. There are also colloquial and figurative expressions.
The sac in the body that holds urine.
Standard term for the urinary bladder, used in medical and everyday language.
When urine accumulates in the bladder, you feel the urge to go to the bathroom.
Used in compounds like 膀胱炎 (cystitis) or 膀胱がん (bladder cancer).
When you get cystitis, you feel pain during urination.
Informal or child-friendly word for bladder, often used when talking about needing to pee.
Literally 'pee bag', a casual and somewhat childish way to refer to the bladder.
Ask a child, 'Is your pee bag full?'
Referring to the ability to wait before urinating, often in phrases like 'weak bladder' or 'small bladder'.
A flexible sac that can be inflated, like the bladder of a ball.
Literally 'air bag', used for the inner inflatable part of balls or other items.
The bladder of the soccer ball burst.
When saying 'I have a weak bladder' in Japanese, use 膀胱が弱い (ぼうこうがよわい) rather than a direct translation of 'weak'. The phrase 膀胱が小さい is more common for frequent urination.
As you get older, your bladder may become weak.