Translation guide
In Japanese, describing a bite wound depends on the animal or insect that caused it, the severity, and the context. The most common and general term is 噛み傷 (kamikizu), which covers wounds from animal or human bites. For insect bites or stings, different words are used, such as 虫刺され (mushisasare) for general insect bites and 刺し傷 (sashikizu) for puncture wounds from stings. Medical and formal contexts may use more specific terms.
A wound caused by teeth, such as from a dog, cat, or person.
The most common and general term for a bite wound from an animal or human. Used in everyday conversation and medical contexts.
犬に噛まれて、噛み傷ができた。
I was bitten by a dog and got a bite wound.
噛み傷が化膿したので病院に行った。
The bite wound got infected, so I went to the hospital.
A more formal or medical term for a bite wound. Often used in clinical or legal contexts.
咬傷の治療には抗生物質が必要です。
Antibiotics are necessary for the treatment of bite wounds.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'a wound from being bitten'. More colloquial and explanatory than 噛み傷.
猫に噛まれた傷が痛む。
The wound from the cat bite hurts.
A wound or mark from an insect, such as a mosquito, bee, or spider.
General term for insect bites or stings, often referring to the itchy bump left by mosquitoes, fleas, etc. Not used for animal bites.
虫刺されがかゆくてたまらない。
The insect bites are so itchy I can't stand it.
虫刺されにはこの薬がよく効く。
This medicine works well for insect bites.
Specifically a puncture wound from a sting (bee, wasp) or a sharp object. Can also refer to a stab wound.
Literally 'insect-eaten mark', used for marks left by insects on plants, fabric, or sometimes skin. Rare for human wounds.
葉っぱに虫食い跡がある。
There are insect bite marks on the leaves.
A wound from a snake bite, often venomous.
Medical term for snake bite. Used in clinical settings.
蛇咬傷の患者が救急搬送された。
A patient with a snake bite was rushed to the emergency room.
Descriptive phrase for a snake bite wound, used in everyday language.
蛇に噛まれた傷がなかなか治らない。
The wound from the snake bite just won't heal.
噛み傷 (kamikizu) is used for bites from animals with teeth (dogs, cats, humans), while 虫刺され (mushisasare) is for insect bites or stings. Using 噛み傷 for a mosquito bite would sound unnatural.
Directly translating 'bite wound' as 噛む傷 (kamu kizu) is grammatically awkward. Use the established compound 噛み傷 or the phrase 噛まれた傷 instead.
I was stung by a bee and the sting wound swelled up.