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.
We will test your sputum (expectoration).
Literally 'to cut phlegm'; means to expel phlegm, often with effort. Common in everyday health contexts.
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.
Please cough up the phlegm.
Medical term for expectoration or coughing up (e.g., blood, foreign bodies). More specific than 喀痰.
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.
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.
He spat out the phlegm.
喀痰培養の結果が出た。
The sputum culture results came back.