How to say "tuberculosis" in Japanese

• 結核けっかくJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe general word for tuberculosis, covering the disease in ordinary and medical use alike; this common word is almost always the right choice for 'tuberculosis' or 'TB'.
  何なん年ねんか前まえには、結核けっかくにかかっていると知しらされることは死しの宣告せんこくを聞きくのに等ひとしかった。↗

  Some years ago, learning that one had tuberculosis amounted to hearing a sentence of death.
• ＴＢテー・ベー
  nounThe abbreviation of 結核, read テー・ベー; it names the same disease but is less common, so reach for it only when the shortened form 'TB' is what you want.
• 結核症けっかくしょう
  nounA less common variant of 結核 that presents tuberculosis as a disease condition; for most purposes 結核 is the word you want, and this form is seldom necessary.

Use 結核 for tuberculosis in almost any context; ＴＢ is its abbreviation for when the shortened form is wanted, and 結核症 is a less common variant naming the disease as a condition.

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

• 結核けっかくtuberculosis
• ＴＢテー・ベーtuberculosis
• 結核症けっかくしょうtuberculosis