How to say "cough" in Japanese

• 咳せきJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe common word for a cough or coughing, whether a single cough or coughing as a symptom of illness. For ordinary purposes this is almost always the word you want.
  母親ははおやはトムの咳せきのことを心配しんぱいしている。↗

  Tom's mother worries about his cough.
• 咳嗽がいそう
  nounA less common word for cough or coughing, covering the same sense as 咳. For everyday purposes 咳 is the usual choice, and this word is seldom needed.
• 謦咳けいがい
  noun, suru verbA less common word for coughing, whose senses also include hawking, the noisy clearing of the throat. It is seldom the word you want for a cough; use 咳 instead.
• ゴホン
  interjectionThe sound of a cough rendered in writing; it can also stand for 'ahem'. For coughing as an action or symptom, 咳 is the word you want.
• 咳払いせきばらい
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThis is the act of clearing one's throat, as people do before speaking; it counts as 'cough' only in the sense of that throat-clearing noise. For coughing itself, use 咳.
  講演こうえん者しゃは咳払せきばらいをした。↗

  The speaker cleared his throat.

Use 咳 for coughing in ordinary contexts; 咳嗽 and 謦咳 are less common words for coughing, the latter also covering hawking; 「ゴホン」 is the cough sound or 'ahem'; 「咳払い」 is for clearing one's throat.

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

• 咳せきcough
• 咳嗽がいそうcough
• 謦咳けいがいcough
• ごほんcough
• 咳払いせきばらいclearing one's throat
• 咳が出るせきがでるto have a cough