How to say "choke" in Japanese

• チョーク
  nounNames the chokehold itself — the hold that cuts off an opponent's air — rather than the act of choking. Unless you are talking about holds in fighting or grappling, this is seldom the word you want.
• むせる
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers choking on something taken in — food or drink going down the wrong way, or smoke and fumes making you sputter and cough. The word is usually written in kana alone.
  煙けむりでむせた。↗

  I was choked by smoke.
• むせ返るむせかえる
  godan verb, intransitive verbTo choke violently — sputtering and coughing hard, overwhelmed by thick smoke or fumes. It is stronger than むせる, suggesting intense choking rather than a brief cough.
  彼かれは部屋へやに満みちていた煙けむりにむせ返かえった。↗

  He was choked by the smoke which filled the room.
• 息が詰まるいきがつまる
  expression, godan verbLiterally 'one's breath is blocked': choking in the sense of being unable to get air, with trouble breathing rather than coughing. Also used figuratively of a place or situation so oppressive it feels suffocating.
  魚さかなの骨ほねがつかえて息いきが詰つまりそうだった。↗

  I nearly choked on a fishbone.

Choking on food, drink or fumes with coughing calls for 「むせる」, violent choking for 「むせ返る」, blocked breathing for 「息が詰まる」, while 「チョーク」 is only the noun for the chokehold itself.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• チョークchoke (hold)
• むせるto choke
• むせ返るむせかえるto choke
• 息が詰まるいきがつまるto choke
• しぼりcontraction