Translation guide
The act of coughing up and spitting out phlegm or mucus from the throat or lungs. In Japanese, this is typically expressed with specific verbs and nouns, and the context (medical vs. everyday) influences word choice.
To describe the physical action of bringing up phlegm from the respiratory tract, often in a medical or health context.
Medical term for expectoration; the act of coughing up phlegm. Used in clinical settings.
喀痰の検査をします。
We will test your sputum (expectoration).
Literally 'to cut phlegm'; means to expel phlegm, often with effort. Common in everyday health contexts.
風邪で痰を切るのが大変だ。
It's hard to cough up phlegm with this cold.
Literally 'to bring out phlegm'; a straightforward way to say expectorate. Used in both medical and casual contexts.
痰を出してください。
Please cough up the phlegm.
Medical term for expectoration or coughing up (e.g., blood, foreign bodies). More specific than 喀痰.
血痰の喀出が見られた。
Expectoration of bloody sputum was observed.
To describe the act of spitting out phlegm after coughing it up, focusing on the expulsion from the mouth.
Literally 'to spit out phlegm'; the most common way to say expectorate in everyday language.
道に痰を吐かないでください。
Please don't spit phlegm on the street.
Emphasizes the forceful expulsion of phlegm. Slightly more vivid than 痰を吐く.
彼は痰を吐き出した。
He spat out the phlegm.
To refer to the phlegm or mucus itself that is expectorated.
The English word 'expectoration' is formal and medical. In everyday Japanese, use phrases like 痰を吐く or 痰を出す. Using 喀痰 in casual conversation may sound overly clinical.
痰 (たん) is the general word for phlegm and is used in daily life. 喀痰 (かくたん) is a medical term specifically for expectorated sputum, often in a clinical context.
The sputum culture results came back.