麦粒腫
bakuryūshu[ba̠kɯ̟ɾʲɨːɕɨ]
The English phrase "stye" can be translated into Japanese as either 麦粒腫 (bakuryūshu) or ものもらい. Wiktionary also lists ̼ものもらい (monomorai).
Meaning: bacterial infection of the eyelash or eyelid (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 麦粒腫 | bakuryūshu | [ba̠kɯ̟ɾʲɨːɕɨ] (narrow) |
| ̼ものもらい | monomorai |
The term refers to a bacterial infection of the eyelash or eyelid.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ものもらい is composed of もの (thing) and もらい (receiving/getting), though this etymology is archaic and is not used literally in modern Japanese.
Which one should you use?
麦粒腫 is the medical term for a stye, whereas ものもらい is the common everyday term.
How do you pronounce it?
bakuryūshu
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese folk medicine, some people believed that a stye was a sign that someone was talking about you behind your back.
- The word 麦粒 (barley grain) is used because the shape of the swelling resembles a small, rounded grain of barley.
- In some older Japanese contexts, 'receiving something' (the literal meaning of もらい) could imply catching an illness from someone else, which is why ものもらい evolved as a term.
Examples in context
- 目が 腫れてきて 、痛みもあります。My eye is swollen and painful.
- 麦粒腫ができてしまいました。bakuryushu ga dekite shimaimashita.I have developed a stye.
- 麦粒腫には目薬が効きます。bakuryushu ni wa megusuri ga kikimasu.Eye drops work for a stye.
Example conversation
Kenta is showing his swollen eye to Yui.
- 健太 Kenta目が腫れているんだけど、どう思う？Me ga harete iru n dakedo, dou omou?My eye is swollen, what do you think?
- 結衣 Yuiもしかして麦粒腫じゃない？Moshikashite bakuryuushu janai?Could it be a stye?
- 健太 Kentaやっぱりそうかな。痛いんだ。Yappari sou kana. Itai n da.I think you're right. It hurts.
- 結衣 Yui早めに眼科に行きなよ。Hayame ni ganka ni ikina yo.You should go to the eye doctor soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stye” translations and entries 麦粒腫, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
