失禁
shikkin[ɕi̥k̚ʲkʲĩɴ]
Incontinence in Japanese is 失禁 (shikkin).
失禁 is a noun used to describe the inability to restrain discharge, covering both bladder and bowel control. It is used in both general descriptions and medical contexts. If you need to be more specific, the medical term 尿失禁 is commonly used for general incontinence, while 排尿失禁 refers specifically to urinary incontinence and 便失禁 refers to fecal incontinence. Additionally, the general term もれる can be used to describe any kind of involuntary leakage.
Meaning: inability to restrain discharge (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 失禁 is composed of the kanji 失, meaning loss or failure and 禁, meaning restraint or prohibition.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the noun as a verb meaning 'to have an accident' or 'to commit incontinence', you can add the verb する to the noun to form 失禁する.
How do you pronounce it?
shikkin
Did you know?
- The word 失禁 can appear in literature to describe a complete loss of self-control or composure, extending beyond its literal physical meaning.
- In Japanese medical contexts, 失禁 is categorized as a 'loss of restriction', but in everyday speech, people often use the term おねしょ specifically for nighttime bed-wetting, regardless of age.
- The word 失禁 shares the character 失 with 失礼 (shitsurei), the standard phrase used to apologize for a social blunder or for interrupting someone.
Examples in context
- 高齢者は失禁に悩むことがあります。Kōreisha wa shikkin ni nayamu koto ga arimasu.Elderly people sometimes suffer from incontinence.
- 彼は失禁の症状を訴えた。Kare wa shikkin no shōjō o uttaeta.He complained of symptoms of incontinence.
- 失禁を防ぐためのパッドがあります。Shikkin o fusegu tame no paddo ga arimasu.There are pads to prevent incontinence.
Example conversation
A patient is describing their symptoms to a doctor.
- 陽葵 Himari先生、最近失禁することがあります。sensei, saikin shikkin suru koto ga arimasu.Doctor, I've been experiencing incontinence lately.
- 蓮 Renそれはいつから始まったのですか、陽葵さん。sore wa itsu kara hajimatta no desu ka, Himari-san.When did that start, Himari?
- 陽葵 Himari一ヶ月前からです。ikkagetsu mae kara desu.It started a month ago.
- 蓮 Renわかりました。詳しく検査しましょう。wakarimashita. kuwashiku kensa shimashō.I see. Let's do a detailed examination.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “incontinence” translations and entries 失禁, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
