Translation guide
The English verb 'choke' has several distinct meanings: to be unable to breathe due to a blocked airway, to squeeze someone's neck, to fail under pressure, and to clog or obstruct something. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
Express that someone is choking on food, liquid, or an object, or is suffocating due to external pressure on the throat.
General term for suffocation or choking, often used in medical or formal contexts. Can refer to choking on something or being strangled.
彼は食べ物をのどに詰まらせて窒息した。
He choked on food and suffocated.
Literally 'to get stuck in the throat'. The most common way to describe choking on food or an object.
子供が飴をのどに詰まらせた。
The child choked on a candy.
To choke or cough when food or drink goes down the wrong pipe. Often used for minor choking incidents.
水を飲んでむせた。
I choked on water.
Literally 'breath gets blocked'. Describes the sensation of choking or being unable to breathe, often due to pressure on the chest or throat.
煙で息が詰まった。
I choked on the smoke.
Express the act of strangling or choking someone with hands or an object.
Literally 'to strangle the neck'. The standard phrase for choking someone with hands or a cord.
犯人は被害者の首を絞めた。
The criminal choked the victim.
Formal term for strangulation to death, used in legal or news contexts.
彼は絞殺された。
He was choked to death.
Describe a situation where someone fails to perform well due to nervousness or pressure.
Literally 'to lose to pressure'. Commonly used in sports and performance contexts.
彼は大事な場面でプレッシャーに負けた。
He choked under pressure in the crucial moment.
To get nervous or stage fright, leading to poor performance. Often used for public speaking or performances.
スピーチであがってしまった。
I choked during the speech.
To fail due to nervousness. A more explicit way to describe choking under pressure.
緊張で失敗して、試合に負けた。
I choked from nerves and lost the match.
Describe something blocking a pipe, road, or other passage, causing a stoppage.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be clogged' or 'to be blocked'. Used for pipes, drains, noses, etc.
排水管が詰まっている。
The drain pipe is choked.
Transitive verb meaning 'to clog' or 'to block'. Used when something causes the blockage.
髪の毛が排水口を詰まらせた。
Hair choked the drain.
To block or obstruct a passage, road, or opening. Can be used for physical blockages.
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all meanings of 'choke'. Using チョークする is not natural. Choose the expression based on the specific situation.
彼はチョークした。
He choked. (unnatural)
のどに詰まらせる is used when an object is stuck in the throat, while むせる is used when liquid or food goes down the wrong pipe, causing coughing. Use むせる for minor incidents and 窒息する for serious suffocation.
Falling rocks choked the road.