Translation guide
Describes the sensation or condition of having insufficient saliva, often due to thirst, nervousness, medication, or health issues. Japanese expressions range from casual thirst to formal medical terms.
I have a dry mouth.
General statement, can be used for thirst or medical reasons.
Express that your mouth feels dry, usually from thirst or heat.
Literally 'throat is dry,' this is the most common way to say you're thirsty. It implies dry mouth as part of thirst.
I'm thirsty, so please give me some water.
Directly means 'mouth becomes dry.' Used for the physical sensation, not necessarily thirst.
My mouth gets dry when I'm nervous.
More formal, 'the inside of the mouth is dry.' Used in medical or descriptive contexts.
Refer to chronic dry mouth as a symptom or side effect.
Medical term for xerostomia. Used by doctors and in health contexts.
Please tell me about treatments for dry mouth.
Loanword from English 'dry mouth.' Common in everyday conversation and health articles.
Lately, I've been bothered by dry mouth.
Literally 'decreased saliva secretion.' Very technical, used in medical reports.
Describe dry mouth caused by anxiety or public speaking.
Same as above, but context makes it clear it's from nerves.
My mouth gets dry when I speak in front of people.
Onomatopoeic expression for extreme dryness, like 'parched.' Vivid and colloquial.
喉が渇いた (nodo ga kawaita) is the standard 'I'm thirsty' and implies dry mouth. 口が渇く (kuchi ga kawaku) specifically means the mouth feels dry, which can be from nerves, medication, or other causes, not just thirst. Use 喉が渇いた when you want a drink.
I'm thirsty, so I want to drink tea.
My mouth is dry, but I'm not thirsty.
The direct translation '乾いた口' (kawaita kuchi) is not natural as a standalone phrase. It might appear in descriptive sentences like '乾いた口を潤す' (to moisten a dry mouth), but for stating the condition, use the verb form 口が渇く or the medical terms.
Dry mouth can be a side effect of this medicine.
Standard warning phrasing.
I woke up with a really dry mouth.
Casual, emphasizes extreme dryness.
My mouth is dry from the air conditioning.
Decreased saliva secretion is the main cause of dry mouth.
I was so nervous my mouth went completely dry.