咳
seki[se̞kʲi]
The English word "cough" is 咳 (seki) in Japanese.
咳 is a noun referring to the sudden, often involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs through the glottis and out through the mouth. For the intentional action of clearing one's throat to get attention or prepare to speak, the phrase 咳払いをする is used.
Meaning: sudden, often involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs through the glottis, and out through the mouth (noun)
Which one should you use?
The term 空咳 is used specifically to describe a dry cough that produces no phlegm. While 咳 is the general noun, the phrase 咳払いをする refers to an intentional throat-clearing rather than an involuntary cough.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of coughing, use the verb をする (to do) with the noun 咳.
How do you pronounce it?
seki
Did you know?
- The word 咳 is a cognate of 堰, which means 'dam'. Both words relate to the idea of blocking or stopping the flow of something.
- While English speakers often say 'sorry' after a cough, Japanese speakers may use the phrase 失礼します ('shitsurei shimasu') to apologize for the interruption caused by the sound.
- In some Japanese contexts, a sudden 咳 during a conversation can be interpreted as a sign of nervousness or an attempt to hide a reaction.
Examples in context
- 咳が出ますか。Do you have a cough?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has a 咳.Tatoeba #184712 by bunbuku, translation #3318983 by CK
- 空咳が出ます。I have a dry cough.This sentence is useful for describing a 咳 that is dry.Tatoeba #226182 by small_snow, translation #63522 by CK
- 咳をすると痛みますか？Does it hurt when you cough?This sentence is useful for asking if it is painful when one performs the action of 咳.Tatoeba #9858920 by bunbuku, translation #9853831 by NurseMeeks
- 私は最近咳が出ます。I've been coughing lately.
- ごめん、咳が出ちゃった。Sorry, I accidentally coughed.
- 昨日から喉が痛くて、ずっとせきが出るんだ。I've had a sore throat since yesterday, and I've been coughing nonstop.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui notices Ren coughing during a quiet study session.
- 結衣 Yui蓮さん、ひどい咳ですね。Ren-san, hidoi seki desu ne.Ren, that's a bad cough.
- 蓮 Renはい、少し咳が出ます。Hai, sukoshi seki ga demasu.Yes, I have a bit of a cough.
- 結衣 Yui大丈夫ですか？無理しないでください。Daijoubu desu ka? Muri shinaide kudasai.Are you okay? Please don't overdo it.
- 蓮 Renありがとうございます。少し休みます。Arigatou gozaimasu. Sukoshi yasumimasu.Thank you. I will rest for a bit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cough” translations and entries 咳, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 咳, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
