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JLPT N26画 · 6 strokesradical 疒freq #5000

pox, smallpox

On'yomi (音読み)

  • トウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

Mnemonic

The sick person (疒) was covered in pox (土), as if the ground was littered with painful reminders of smallpox.

About this kanji

The kanji 痘 (トウ) primarily means pox or smallpox, referring to a viral infection that causes fever and skin rash. This kanji is mostly used in noun form, especially within compounds that describe specific types of smallpox. For example, 天然痘 (てんねんとう) specifically means smallpox, while 痘瘡 (とうそう) is another term for the same disease. Another related term is 皰痘 (ほうとう), which refers to pustules caused by infections. It's important to note that, while smallpox has been eradicated, these terms are still relevant in medical contexts or historical discussions.

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Example sentences

  • 痘瘡は非常に感染力が強い。

    Smallpox is highly contagious.

Meanings across languages

English
pox, smallpox
Tiếng Việt
đậu, đậu mùa
日本語
痘, あばた, おでき
한국어
두창, 천식
中文
天花, 小痘
id
cacar, kudis
th
อีสุกอีใส, โรคอีสุกอีใส
es
variola, viruela
fr
variole, variole
de
Pocken, Blattern
pt
varíola, varíola

Common compounds

  • 天然痘てんねんとうsmallpox
  • 痘瘡とうそうsmallpox
  • 皰痘ほうとうpustule

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