水疱瘡
mizubōsō
Chicken pox in Japanese is 水疱瘡 (mizubōsō). Wiktionary also lists 水痘 (suitō).
Meaning: disease (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 水疱瘡 | mizubōsō | |
| 水痘 | suitō | [sɨito̞ː] (narrow) |
The phrase refers to the disease known as chicken pox.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 水疱瘡 (mizubōsō) is composed of 水 (water), 疱 (blister/pustule) and 瘡 (sore/scab).
Which one should you use?
While 水疱瘡 (mizubōsō) is the common term used in daily conversation, 水痘 (suitō) is the medical/technical term used by doctors and in official health contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say one 'has' or 'caught' chicken pox, use the verb combination 水疱瘡になる (mizubōsō ni naru), which literally means 'to become chicken pox'.
How do you pronounce it?
mizubōsō
Did you know?
- In casual speech, Japanese people may simply refer to the 'spots' of chicken pox as ぶつぶつ 'butsubutsu'. This onomatopoeic word describes the physical sensation or appearance of small bumps on the skin.
- The word 水疱瘡 is actually a compound of 水 'water' and 疱瘡 'smallpox'. Historically, chicken pox was viewed and named as a milder, watery version of smallpox.
- Because the word 水疱瘡 (mizubōsō) shares a component with 'smallpox', some older Japanese speakers might use euphemisms to avoid the term when speaking to children.
Examples in context
- 水疱瘡になったんだと思う。I believe I've got the chicken pox.This sentence is useful for expressing a belief that one has caught the disease using 水疱瘡.Tatoeba #11674957 by small_snow, translation #2563041 by AlanF_US
- 子供の時、水疱瘡になったよ。I had chicken pox when I was a kid.This sentence is useful for describing a past experience of having the disease using 水疱瘡.Tatoeba #9971998 by small_snow, translation #2331651 by CK
- その子には水疱瘡の症状がある。The child has a case of chicken pox.This sentence is useful for describing symptoms of the disease in a child using 水疱瘡.Tatoeba #210201 by bunbuku, translation #47466 by CK
- 子どものうちに 水疱瘡 にかかるのが一般的ですIt is common for children to get chicken pox.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori and Daisho are talking about why a classmate is absent.
- 陽葵 Himariねえ、どうしてあの子は学校に来ないの？Nee, doushite ano ko wa gakkou ni konai no?Hey, why isn't that child coming to school?
- 大翔 Hiroto水疱瘡にかかったみたいだよ。Mizubousou ni kakatta mitai da yo.It seems like they have chicken pox.
- 陽葵 Himariえっ、本当に？大変だね。E, hontou ni? Taihen da ne.Oh, really? That's tough.
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、しばらく休まないとダメなんだって。Un, shibaraku yasumanai to dame nan datte.Yeah, I heard they have to rest for a while.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chicken pox” translations and entries 水疱瘡, 水痘, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 水疱瘡, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
