Respiratory & Cardiovascular

Basic symptoms

咳が出ます。
せきがでます。
I have a cough.
The most basic phrase — the doctor will want to know if there's phlegm and how long it's been going on.
Suggested Department
Pulmonology (lungs/airway, e.g. cough, phlegm)
Related胸が痛い（chest pain）乾いた咳（dry cough）
胸が痛いです。
むねがいたいです。
I have chest pain.
The most basic phrase — the nature and duration of chest pain are key to judging severity; see the breakdown below.
Suggested Department
Cardiology (heart & major vessels, not general "circulation")Pulmonology (lungs/airway, e.g. cough, phlegm)Chest Pain Clinic (at some larger hospitals, for rapid workup)

Chest pain has many possible causes (heart, lungs, digestive tract, muscles, or stress) and is hard to self-diagnose; some larger hospitals have a Chest Pain Clinic for rapid workup

Related胸の圧迫感（chest tightness/pressure）チクチク痛む（sharp stabbing chest pain）

By symptom type

乾いた咳が出ます。痰は出ません。
かわいたせきがでます。たんはでません。
I have a dry cough, no phlegm.
Distinguished from a wet cough with phlegm — the doctor will use this to judge the likely cause.
Suggested Department
Pulmonology (lungs/airway, e.g. cough, phlegm)
Related痰が出る（productive cough (phlegm)）
痰が出ます。
たんがでます。
I have phlegm.
The color of the phlegm (clear/yellow-green/blood-tinged) is an important clue — it's worth describing on your own.
Suggested Department
Pulmonology (lungs/airway, e.g. cough, phlegm)
Related血痰（blood-tinged sputum）
痰に血が混じっています。
たんにちがまじっています。
There's blood in my phlegm.
Deserves attention — seek medical care promptly to identify the cause.
⚠️ Worth paying attention to
Suggested Department
Pulmonology (lungs/airway, e.g. cough, phlegm)Emergency / Call ambulance (119)
Related痰が出る（productive cough (phlegm)）
呼吸するとゼイゼイ音がします。
こきゅうするとゼイゼイおとがします。
I hear wheezing when I breathe.
A common phrase for asthma and bronchitis.
Suggested Department
Pulmonology (lungs/airway, e.g. cough, phlegm)
Related息苦しい（shortness of breath）
息苦しいです。
いきぐるしいです。
I'm having trouble breathing.
If it comes on suddenly, occurs with chest pain, or happens even at rest, this is a sign that calls for strong caution.
Suggested Department
Pulmonology (lungs/airway, e.g. cough, phlegm)Cardiology (heart & major vessels, not general "circulation")
Related締め付けられるような胸の痛みが30分以上続く（squeezing chest pain lasting over 30 min）痛みが肩・腕・顎・背中に広がる（pain radiating to shoulder/arm/jaw/back）
動悸がします。心臓がドキドキします。
どうきがします。しんぞうがドキドキします。
I have heart palpitations.
Nervousness or too much caffeine can also cause this, but if it's sudden and accompanied by chest pain or shortness of breath, be cautious.
Suggested Department
Cardiology (heart & major vessels, not general "circulation")
Related不整脈（irregular heartbeat）
胸に圧迫感があります。締め付けられる感じです。
むねにあっぱくかんがあります。しめつけられるかんじです。
I feel pressure or tightness in my chest.
If this tightness lasts more than 30 minutes without easing, it's a sign requiring immediate medical care — see the warning signs section below.
Suggested Department
Cardiology (heart & major vessels, not general "circulation")Pulmonology (lungs/airway, e.g. cough, phlegm)
Related締め付けられるような胸の痛みが30分以上続く（squeezing chest pain lasting over 30 min）
胸がチクチク痛みます。
むねがチクチクいたみます。
I have a sharp, stabbing pain in my chest.
A brief, sharp pain usually isn't urgent, but if it keeps recurring, it's still worth getting checked.
Suggested Department
Pulmonology (lungs/airway, e.g. cough, phlegm)Cardiology (heart & major vessels, not general "circulation")
Related胸の圧迫感（chest tightness/pressure）
血圧が高いです。/ 血圧が低いです。
けつあつがたかいです。/ けつあつがひくいです。
My blood pressure is high/low.
If you've measured a number yourself, report the actual figure — it's more accurate than just saying 'high' or 'low.'
Suggested Department
Internal Medicine (general entry point when unsure)

For blood pressure issues alone with no other symptoms, start with Internal Medicine — no need to go straight to Cardiology; you'll be referred if specialist care is needed

Warning signs

胸が締め付けられるように痛くて、30分以上続いています。
むねがしめつけられるようにいたくて、さんじゅっぷんいじょうつづいています。
My chest feels tight and painful, and it's lasted more than 30 minutes.
One of the classic signs of a heart attack — duration is the key thing to watch. If this matches your symptoms, call an ambulance immediately.
⚠️ Danger sign — could be life-threatening
Suggested Department
Emergency / Call ambulance (119)Cardiology (heart & major vessels, not general "circulation")
Related胸の圧迫感（chest tightness/pressure）痛みが肩・腕・顎・背中に広がる（pain radiating to shoulder/arm/jaw/back）
胸の痛みが肩や腕、顎にも広がっています。
むねのいたみがかたやうで、あごにもひろがっています。
The chest pain is spreading to my shoulder, arm, or jaw.
A classic referred pain location for heart attack, often mistaken for a shoulder or dental problem which delays care — if this happens, call an ambulance immediately.
⚠️ Danger sign — could be life-threatening
Suggested Department
Emergency / Call ambulance (119)Cardiology (heart & major vessels, not general "circulation")
Related締め付けられるような胸の痛みが30分以上続く（squeezing chest pain lasting over 30 min）
脈が飛ぶ感じ、または急に速くなったり遅くなったりします。
みゃくがとぶかんじ、またはきゅうにはやくなったりおそくなったりします。
My heartbeat feels irregular — skipping, or suddenly fast or slow.
If accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, or confusion, seek medical care immediately.
⚠️ Worth paying attention to
Suggested Department
Cardiology (heart & major vessels, not general "circulation")
Related動悸（heart palpitations）
胸が痛くて、冷や汗も出ています。
むねがいたくて、ひやあせもでています。
Chest pain along with cold sweat.
A common combination of symptoms with a heart attack — seek medical care immediately.
⚠️ Danger sign — could be life-threatening
Suggested Department
Emergency / Call ambulance (119)Cardiology (heart & major vessels, not general "circulation")
Related締め付けられるような胸の痛みが30分以上続く（squeezing chest pain lasting over 30 min）失神・意識が遠のく（fainting/loss of consciousness）
気を失いそうです。意識が遠のく感じがします。
きをうしないそうです。いしきがとおのくかんじがします。
I feel like I'm about to faint / losing consciousness.
Seek medical care immediately. If you're alone, try to sit or lie down first to avoid falling.
⚠️ Danger sign — could be life-threatening
Suggested Department
Emergency / Call ambulance (119)
Related冷や汗を伴う胸の痛み（chest pain with cold sweat）
座って安静にしていても息苦しいです。
すわってあんせいにしていてもいきぐるしいです。
I'm short of breath even at rest, not just after activity.
Different from breathlessness after activity — difficulty breathing at rest points to a more serious heart or lung problem and needs prompt medical care.
⚠️ Worth paying attention to
Suggested Department
Emergency / Call ambulance (119)Pulmonology (lungs/airway, e.g. cough, phlegm)
Related息苦しい（shortness of breath）
Respiratory & Cardiovascular Symptoms | Symptom Dictionary Japanese phrases for Respiratory & Cardiovascular symptoms, with example sentences and audio.
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