Translation guide
How to talk about a sore throat in Japanese, from casual complaints to medical descriptions.
喉が痛いです。
I have a sore throat.
Expressing that your throat hurts or is sore in everyday conversation.
The most common and natural way to say 'I have a sore throat' or 'My throat hurts.'
喉が痛くて、声が出ない。
My throat hurts and I can't speak.
I've had a sore throat since yesterday.
Describes a scratchy, irritated feeling in the throat, often from dryness or a mild cold.
空気が乾燥していて、喉がイガイガする。
The air is dry and my throat feels scratchy.
Indicates a stinging or burning pain in the throat, often from inflammation or overuse.
叫びすぎて喉がヒリヒリする。
I shouted too much and my throat is stinging.
Medical term for 'pharyngalgia' or sore throat. Used in clinical contexts.
咽頭痛の症状があります。
I have symptoms of pharyngalgia.
Specifying that the sore throat is due to a cold or infection.
Explicitly states that the sore throat is from a cold.
風邪で喉が痛くて、咳も出ます。
I have a sore throat from a cold and a cough too.
Means 'my tonsils are swollen,' often associated with a severe sore throat.
扁桃腺が腫れて、唾を飲み込むのも痛い。
My tonsils are swollen and it hurts even to swallow saliva.
Explaining that the throat is sore due to strain.
Directly says 'I used my voice too much and my throat hurts.'
カラオケで声を出しすぎて喉が痛い。
I sang too much at karaoke and my throat hurts.
Means 'to hurt one's throat' or 'to strain one's throat.' Often used as a warning.
無理に大声を出すと喉を痛めますよ。
If you force yourself to shout, you'll strain your throat.
Describing pain when swallowing.
Specifically says 'it hurts when I swallow saliva.'
唾を飲み込むと喉が痛くて、食事がつらい。
It hurts when I swallow, so eating is difficult.
A shorter way to say 'swallowing hurts.'
飲み込むのが痛くて、薬が飲めない。
Swallowing hurts and I can't take my medicine.
「喉が痛い」 is a general 'my throat hurts.' 「喉がイガイガする」 is more specific to a scratchy, tickly irritation, often from dryness or allergies, not necessarily a deep pain.
The English word 'sore' is not used in Japanese. Always use 痛い or an onomatopoeic expression like イガイガ.