Translation guide
The act of coughing, or the sound/illness. In Japanese, the noun is 咳 (seki), and the verb is 咳をする (seki o suru) or 咳き込む (sekikomu) for a fit of coughing. Onomatopoeia like ゴホゴホ (gohogoho) and コンコン (konkon) are common for describing cough sounds.
Referring to the physical act or sound of coughing as a noun.
The action of coughing, typically a single or controlled cough.
The standard verb phrase for 'to cough'. Used for voluntary or involuntary single coughs.
Describing repeated, uncontrollable coughing, often due to illness or irritation.
Mimicking the sound of a cough in Japanese.
Represents a heavy, chesty cough, often from a cold. Used for deeper, more forceful coughs.
Referring to a cough as a symptom or medical condition.
The most natural way to say 'I have a cough' or 'a cough comes out'. Used for describing the symptom.
The verb 咳く (seku) is rarely used in modern spoken Japanese. Always use 咳をする (seki o suru) for 'to cough' or 咳き込む (sekikomu) for a coughing fit.
咳をする (seki o suru) refers to a single cough or the general act of coughing. 咳き込む (sekikomu) means to cough repeatedly or have a coughing fit, often uncontrollably.
Japanese often uses onomatopoeia like ゴホゴホ (gohogoho) or コンコン (konkon) with the verb する or と to describe the sound of coughing. For example, ゴホゴホする means 'to have a heavy cough'.
I can't stop coughing.
His coughing is annoying.
He cleared his throat and then began to speak.
He coughed.
Please don't cough.
A rare, somewhat literary verb meaning 'to cough'. Not commonly used in modern conversation; 咳をする is preferred.
He coughed violently.
To cough repeatedly or have a coughing fit. Implies a series of coughs, often uncontrollable.
Last night I couldn't sleep because I kept coughing.
I started coughing from the smoke.
Literally 'the cough doesn't stop'. A common phrase to describe a persistent cough.
I caught a cold and can't stop coughing.
He's coughing heavily (with a 'gohogoho' sound).
Represents a light, dry cough, like a tickle in the throat. Often used for polite or suppressed coughs.
He cleared his throat with a light cough ('konkon').
A more violent, hacking cough, sometimes associated with choking or severe irritation.
He choked and coughed violently ('gehogeho').
I don't have a fever, but I have a cough.
Cough-variant asthma, a medical term for asthma where the main symptom is coughing.
I was diagnosed with cough-variant asthma.
Cover your mouth when you cough.