咳
咳·cough
- On-yomi
- ガイ
- Kun-yomi
- せき
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 咳 | せき | cough |
| 咳払い | せきばらい | clearing one's throat |
| 咳止め | せきどめ | cough medicine |
| 咳き込む | せきこむ | to have a coughing fit |
Example sentences
風邪で咳が止まらない。
かぜでせきがとまらない。
I have a cold and can't stop coughing.
先生は話す前に咳払いをした。
せんせいははなすまえにせきばらいをした。
The teacher cleared his throat before speaking.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 咳 as ガイ on its own — the everyday word is せき
- 咳 is very often written in kana as せき in ordinary text
Memory aid
Picture it
口 (mouth) with 亥, the boar of the zodiac: a short grunting bark from the mouth.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 咳 mean?