Japanese word

感染

Pronunciation

Romajikansen

Meaning

  • nouninfection

Example

学校で感染が広がっています。gak kō de kan sen ga hiro ga tte i ma su

The infection is spreading at school.

Illustration for 感染 (infection)

More examples

手洗いをして、感染を防ぎます。te ara i o shi te kan sen o fuse gi ma su

We wash our hands to prevent infection.

Core concept

Describes a state in which germs enter the body and begin to grow.

Common phrases

  • 感染が広がるkan sen ga hiro ga ru

    infection spreads

  • 感染を防ぐkan sen o fuse gu

    prevent infection

  • 感染のリスクkan sen no ri su ku

    risk of infection

Similar words

伝染densen: The spread of an illness or germs from one person to another.

Definition in Japanese

病気を引き起こす微生物が体内に侵入し、そこで増えること。byō ki o hi ki o ko su bi sei butsu ga tai nai ni shin nyū shi so ko de fu e ru ko to

Word origin

感染 (kansen) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 感 (kan, "be affected") and 染 (sen, "be stained or permeated"), suggesting that an outside influence enters and remains in the body.

Usage tips

  • English uses infection in expressions such as a viral infection and a bacterial infection, with the first word identifying the type of microorganism involved.

Related words

  • 感染者kansenshainfected personnoun
  • 感染症kansenshōinfectious diseasenoun
  • 感染力kansenryokuinfectiousnessnoun

Word lists with this word