Translation guide
Cerumen is the medical term for earwax. In everyday English, people say 'earwax' much more often. This guide covers how to talk about earwax in Japanese, from casual to medical contexts.
The substance produced in the ear canal, in casual or daily conversation.
The standard, everyday word for earwax. Literally 'ear dirt'.
耳垢がたまっている。
I have a buildup of earwax.
耳垢を取ってもらった。
I had my earwax removed.
A more vulgar, colloquial term for earwax. Literally 'ear crap'. Used in very casual or rough speech.
Can sound crude; avoid in polite settings.
耳糞がすごいよ。
You've got a lot of earwax, man.
The medical term for earwax, used in clinical or formal contexts.
The medical term for cerumen. Same kanji as the everyday word but read differently.
耳垢栓塞の診断を受けた。
I was diagnosed with cerumen impaction.
Ceruminous glands, the glands that produce cerumen. Highly technical.
耳垢腺から分泌される。
It is secreted by the ceruminous glands.
Describing wet or dry earwax, a common topic in Japan due to genetic differences.
Wet-type earwax. Often used in medical or genetic contexts.
日本人は乾性耳垢が多いが、私は湿性耳垢だ。
Many Japanese have dry earwax, but I have wet earwax.
Dry-type earwax. Common in East Asian populations.
乾性耳垢の人は耳垢がぽろぽろ落ちる。
People with dry earwax have earwax that crumbles off.
Slang for wet, sticky earwax. Literally 'sticky ear'.
俺はベタ耳だから耳掃除が大変だ。
I have sticky earwax, so cleaning my ears is a pain.
Slang for dry, flaky earwax. Literally 'dry ear'.
カサ耳の人は耳垢が自然に出てくる。
People with dry earwax have it come out naturally.
Actions and tools related to removing earwax.
Ear cleaning. The general term for cleaning one's ears, often with an ear pick.
毎日耳掃除をする。
I clean my ears every day.
An ear pick, the traditional tool for removing earwax. Also refers to the act of using it.
To remove earwax. A common verb phrase.
耳鼻科で耳垢を取ってもらった。
I had earwax removed at the ENT clinic.
Cotton swab (Q-tip). Often used for ear cleaning, though not recommended by doctors.
Doctors advise against inserting cotton swabs into the ear canal.
Both are written 耳垢, but みみあか is the everyday word, while じこう is the medical term. Use みみあか in daily conversation and じこう in clinical contexts.
In Japan, ear cleaning (耳掃除) is often done with an ear pick (耳かき) and is sometimes considered a relaxing activity. Many people have their ears cleaned by family members or at ear cleaning salons.
In English, 'cerumen' is a medical term rarely used outside clinical settings. In Japanese, the medical term 耳垢 (じこう) is also technical. For everyday use, always default to 耳垢 (みみあか).
耳の耳垢を取ってもらわないと。
I need to get the earwax removed from my ear.
耳かきで耳垢を取る。
I remove earwax with an ear pick.
Cleaning your ears with cotton swabs is dangerous.