Japanese word

伝染

Pronunciation

Romajidensen

Meaning

  • nouncontagion

Example

この病気はすぐに伝染します。ko no byō ki wa su gu ni den sen shi ma su

This disease spreads quickly.

Illustration for 伝染 (contagion)

More examples

手洗いはウイルスの伝染を防ぐのに役立ちます。te ara i wa u i ru su no den sen o fuse gu no ni yaku da chi ma su

Handwashing helps prevent the transmission of viruses.

Core concept

The core meaning is disease passing from one person to another through contact or other means.

Common phrases

  • 伝染を防ぐden sen o fuse gu

    prevent contagion

  • 伝染の恐れden sen no oso re

    risk of contagion

  • 人から人への伝染hito ka ra hito e no den sen

    person-to-person contagion

Similar words

感染kansen: The presence and growth of disease-causing organisms in a person's body after they enter it.
伝播denpa: The movement of a disease, organism, or other thing between people or places.

Definition in Japanese

病気が人から人へうつること。byō ki ga hito ka ra hito e u tsu ru ko to

Word origin

伝染 (densen) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 伝 (den, "convey") and 染 (sen, "dye"), expressing the passing of disease from person to person.

Usage tips

  • In English, contagion can also describe the spread of feelings such as fear, extending the idea beyond disease.

Other meanings

  • infectionnoun
  • transmissionnoun

Related words

  • 伝染性densenseicontagiousna-adjective
  • 伝染力densenryokuinfectiousnessnoun

Word lists with this word