Translation guide
The English word "inflammation" refers to a bodily response to injury or infection, characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain. In Japanese, the most common and general term is 炎症 (えんしょう). Depending on the context, more specific terms or expressions may be used.
To refer to the general concept of inflammation in a medical or formal context.
The standard medical term for inflammation. Used in both formal and everyday contexts when discussing health conditions.
炎症が起きている。
There is inflammation.
炎症を抑える薬を飲んでいます。
I'm taking medicine to reduce inflammation.
To name a specific inflammatory condition, often using the suffix ～炎 (～えん).
To describe visible signs of inflammation like redness or swelling in casual conversation.
Refers to redness, a common symptom of inflammation. Used in everyday language.
傷の周りに赤みがある。
There's redness around the wound.
Refers to swelling. Often used together with 赤み to describe inflammation.
虫刺されで腫れが出た。
I got swelling from an insect bite.
A common phrase meaning 'to become red and swollen', describing the inflammatory response.
目が赤く腫れている。
My eye is red and swollen.
To refer to an inflammatory disease in a general sense, often in medical contexts.
A formal medical term meaning 'inflammatory disease'. Used in clinical settings.
炎症性疾患の治療法が進歩している。
Treatments for inflammatory diseases are advancing.
When talking about a specific inflammatory condition, it's often more natural to use the specific disease name (e.g., 肺炎 for pneumonia) rather than the general term 炎症. The suffix ～炎 is highly productive and can be attached to many body parts.
In casual conversation, Japanese speakers often describe symptoms like redness (赤み) or swelling (腫れ) without using the medical term 炎症. Reserve 炎症 for more formal or medical contexts, or when explicitly discussing the inflammatory process.