Translation guide
The fold of skin covering the glans of the penis. In Japanese, the most common and neutral term is 包皮 (ほうひ), used in medical and everyday contexts. There are also colloquial and slang terms, as well as expressions related to circumcision status.
The standard word for foreskin in medical, formal, or neutral everyday contexts.
The standard anatomical term for foreskin. Used in medical contexts and formal writing. Can be used in everyday conversation without being overly clinical.
包皮の衛生は大切です。
Foreskin hygiene is important.
包皮が炎症を起こしています。
The foreskin is inflamed.
A more casual, commonly used word for foreskin in informal conversation.
Literally 'skin', but in context it clearly means foreskin. Very common in casual speech, especially among men. Can be used in phrases about circumcision or hygiene.
皮をむくのが痛い。
It hurts to retract the foreskin.
皮が長いから、手術を考えている。
My foreskin is long, so I'm considering surgery.
Slang term for smegma, but sometimes used metonymically to refer to the foreskin area. Crude and only used in very informal, often vulgar, male speech.
This word primarily means smegma, not foreskin. Using it to mean foreskin is imprecise and may cause confusion or offense.
Expressions used when discussing circumcision or the state of having/not having a foreskin.
Medical term for phimosis (tight foreskin). Often used in discussions about circumcision. In casual contexts, it can simply mean 'uncircumcised'.
彼は包茎手術を受けた。
He had phimosis surgery (circumcision).
包茎だと清潔にしにくい。
If you have phimosis, it's hard to keep clean.
Paraphimosis, a condition where the retracted foreskin cannot return to its original position. Medical term.
カントン包茎は緊急処置が必要です。
Paraphimosis requires emergency treatment.
A condition where the foreskin covers the glans but can be retracted easily. Often considered a normal variant rather than a medical issue. Common term in Japanese circumcision discussions.
仮性包茎は病気ではありません。
A retractable foreskin is not a disease.
While 包皮 is the direct translation, in casual male conversation simply saying 皮 (かわ) is far more natural. Using 包皮 in a locker room might sound overly clinical.
包茎 (phimosis) is a medical condition, but is often used colloquially to mean 'uncircumcised'. 皮 simply means 'skin' and is the most common casual word for foreskin. Be aware of the context to avoid implying a medical problem when you just mean the anatomical part.
You've got smegma buildup.