咳が出る
seki ga deru
To say "I have a cough" in Japanese, use 咳が出る (seki ga deru).
This phrase is used to tell someone that you are experiencing a cough.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "a cough comes out".
How do you pronounce it?
seki ga deru
Did you know?
- In Japan, wearing a surgical mask when you have 咳が出る is not just for protection but is seen as a gesture of 'meiwaku' avoidance, or preventing a nuisance to others.
- Japanese contains a vast array of 'mimetics' to describe the exact texture of a cough. For example, コンコン (kon-kon) describes a dry, barking cough, while ゲホゲホ (geho-geho) describes a wet or hacking one.
- If you cough during a formal speech or meeting, it is common to murmur 失礼します ('shitsurei shimasu') to apologize for the interruption of the silence.
Examples in context
- 咳（せき）が止（と）まらなくて困（こま）っています。I can't stop coughing, and it's troubling me.
- 咳（せき）が酷（ひど）くて、眠（ねむ）れません。I can't sleep due to a severe cough.
- 咳が出る。seki ga deru.I have a cough.
- 最近、少し咳が出るんです。saikin, sukoshi seki ga derun desu.I've been coughing a little lately.
- 夜になると咳が出る。yoru ni naru to seki ga deru.I start coughing at night.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking on the phone about health.
- 大翔 Hiroto最近、咳が出るんだ。saikin, seki ga derunda.I've been having a cough lately.
- 陽葵 Himari大丈夫？無理しないでね。daijoubu? muri shinai de ne.Are you okay? Don't overdo it.
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、少し休むよ。un, sukoshi yasumu yo.Yeah, I'll rest a bit.
- 陽葵 Himariお大事にね、大翔君。odaiji ni ne, Hiroto-kun.Take care, Hiroto.
