Translation guide
The English word 'swelling' can refer to a physical bump or enlargement on the body, or the process of something increasing in size. This guide covers how to express these ideas naturally in Japanese, from medical contexts to everyday descriptions.
Describing a visible or palpable bump, lump, or swollen part of the body, often due to injury, infection, or medical condition.
The most common and general word for a swelling or swollen area on the body. Used in everyday conversation and medical contexts.
There is swelling around my eye.
The swelling has gone down.
Refers to a swelling, boil, or abscess. Often implies a localized, sometimes pus-filled lump. More specific than 腫れ.
I got a swelling on my back.
A bump or lump, often from a blow or injury. Can also refer to a knot on a tree. Casual.
I got a bump on my head.
A bulge or protrusion, not necessarily medical. Can describe a swelling shape in objects or body parts. Less common for injury-related swelling.
There is a swelling on my ankle.
Describing the action or condition of something increasing in volume, often due to fluid retention, inflammation, or other causes.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to swell' (as in a body part). Use this when a body part becomes swollen.
My leg is swollen.
My eyes swelled up from crying.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to swell' or 'to expand'. Used for things like bread dough, balloons, or a puffed-up face. Can also mean 'to sulk'.
Verb meaning 'to swell' due to water retention (edema). Often used for faces, hands, or feet in the morning or after salt intake.
Same reading as 膨れる, but specifically used for swelling of the body, especially the stomach. Less common in modern usage; often written as 膨れる.
Describing something expanding, growing larger, or bulging, not necessarily related to the body.
Noun meaning 'expansion' or 'swelling'. Used for physical expansion of materials, economic inflation, or swelling of numbers.
Metal expands with heat.
Noun meaning 'increase' or 'enlargement'. Used for swelling of numbers, scale, or intensity.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to swell', 'to expand', or 'to bulge'. Used for hopes, dreams, budgets, as well as physical objects.
腫れ (hare) generally refers to swelling caused by inflammation or injury, while むくみ (mukumi) refers to swelling from fluid retention (edema). If your face is puffy in the morning from salt or sleep, use むくみ. If your ankle is swollen from a sprain, use 腫れ.
In English, 'swelling' is often used as a noun. In Japanese, it's more natural to use the verb form (腫れている) or the noun 腫れ. Avoid directly translating 'I have a swelling' as 私は腫れを持っている; instead say 腫れがあります.
パンが膨れた。
The bread swelled up.
She puffed out her cheeks.
My face is swollen in the morning.
腹が脹れる。
The stomach swells.
予算の膨張が問題だ。
The swelling of the budget is a problem.
夢が膨らむ。
Dreams swell (grow).