How to Say "Gargle" in Japanese

うがい

ugai

To gargle in Japanese is うがい (ugai).

The word うがい refers to the act of cleaning one's mouth or throat.

Meaning: to clean one's mouth (verb)

How does it change in a sentence?

Additionally, if you are referring to gargling medicine, you can use the term うがい薬.

ugai

In Japan, gargling and hand washing are frequently mentioned together as essential hygienic habits to avoid catching colds or other illnesses.

The term うがい covers two distinct actions: rinsing the mouth with water and tilting the head back to gargle the throat.
While うがい is for hygiene, Japanese has a separate word, 口をゆすぐ, specifically for rinsing out food particles after a meal.
While English speakers usually 'gargle' only when sick, うがい is viewed as a proactive 'defense' that healthy people do daily to avoid getting sick.

風邪が移ると大変だから、家に帰ったらすぐにうがいと手洗いしようね。
Gargle and wash your hands as soon as you get home so that you don't catch a cold.
This sentence shows how to use うがい when giving advice about hygiene to prevent catching a cold.
Tatoeba #9380981 by small_snow, translation #9380984 by DJ_Saidez
医師は歯磨き後にうがいを勧めました。
The doctor recommended gargling after brushing your teeth.
歯科医はうがい薬の使用を推奨しました。
The dentist recommended using a gargling medicine.
うがいしてください
Please gargle!
喉が痛い時は、よくうがいをしてください。
Nodo ga itai toki wa, yoku ugai o shite kudasai.
When your throat hurts, please gargle often.
寝る前にうがいをします。
Neru mae ni ugai o shimasu.
I gargle before going to bed.
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Yui is reminding Yota to practice good hygiene after coming home.

結衣 Yui

陽太くん、帰ったらまずうがいをした？
Yota-kun, kaettara mazu ugai o shita?
Yota, did you gargle as soon as you got home?
陽太 Yota

うん、ちゃんとやったよ。
Un, chanto yatta yo.
Yeah, I did it properly.
結衣 Yui

風邪を引かないように気をつけてね。
Kaze o hikanai you ni ki o tsukete ne.
Be careful not to catch a cold.
陽太 Yota

ありがとう、結衣。気をつけるよ。
Arigatou, Yui. Ki o tsukeru yo.
Thanks, Yui. I will be careful.

Sources

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