Japanese word

消毒

Pronunciation

Romajishōdoku

Meaning

  • noundisinfection

Example

けがをしたら、傷口を消毒します。ke ga o shi ta ra kizu guchi o shō doku shi ma su

If I get hurt, I disinfect the wound.

Illustration for 消毒 (disinfection)

More examples

医師の指示に従い、患部を消毒します。i shi no shi ji ni shitaga i kan bu o shō doku shi ma su

Following the doctor's instructions, I disinfect the affected area.

Core concept

Describes removing or killing harmful germs on a person or object to prevent infection.

Common phrases

  • アルコールで消毒a ru kō ru de shō doku

    disinfection with alcohol

  • 手指の消毒shu shi no shō doku

    hand disinfection

  • 傷口の消毒kizu guchi no shō doku

    wound disinfection

Similar words

殺菌sakkin: The killing of harmful microorganisms without guaranteeing that none remain.
除菌jokin: The reduction or removal of microorganisms, whether or not they are killed.
滅菌mekkin: The process of making an object free of all microorganisms.

Definition in Japanese

病原体を薬剤や熱などで死滅または除去し、感染を防ぐこと。byō gen tai o yaku zai ya netsu na do de shi metsu ma ta wa jo kyo shi kan sen o fuse gu ko to

Word origin

消毒 (shōdoku) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 消 (shō, "erase") and 毒 (doku, "poison"), expressing the removal of harmful agents.

Usage tips

  • In health and cleaning contexts, disinfection reduces harmful germs but does not necessarily remove every microorganism, so it differs from complete sterilization.

Related words

  • 消毒するshōdokusurudisinfectverb
  • 消毒性shōdokuseidisinfecting propertynoun

Word lists with this word