How to say "herpes" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 疱疹ほうしんnounThe Sino-Japanese medical term for herpes, denoting the blistering skin eruption itself. A less common word, it belongs chiefly to clinical and written medical contexts rather than everyday conversation.
- nounThe loanword from English and the everyday word for herpes, covering cold sores and genital herpes; in ordinary conversation this is the word you want, not the kanji clinical term.
For herpes as talked about in daily life, use the loanword 「ヘルペス」; the kanji term 疱疹 is the clinical name for the blistering eruption and appears mainly in medical writing.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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