How to say "influenza" in Japanese

• 風邪かぜJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounReally the word for an ordinary cold; it can also be used loosely of flu or a heavy, cold-like illness, but for influenza itself インフルエンザ is the precise word.
  ただの風邪かぜでしょう。↗

  You probably just have a cold.
• インフルエンザCommon
  nounThe word for influenza proper, the flu; use it when the illness is actually influenza rather than an ordinary cold, as when reporting that you have come down with the flu.
  インフルエンザが都市部としぶで猛威もういを振ふるった。↗

  The flu struck the metropolitan area.

Use 「インフルエンザ」 for influenza or the flu as a distinct illness; 風邪 is really the common-cold word and covers flu only loosely, so it is seldom what you want for influenza proper.

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

• 風邪かぜ(common) cold
• インフルエンザinfluenza
• インフルinfluenza
• 流感りゅうかんinfluenza
• 流行性感冒りゅうこうせいかんぼうinfluenza
• 流行風邪はやりかぜinfluenza
• 風かぜcold