Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

伝染病 (でんせんびょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

伝でん染せん病びょう

で

ん

せ

ん

びょ

う

Common word

Meanings

1

noun

infectious disease; contagious disease; epidemic

medicine

Medical term for diseases that spread from person to person or via vectors. In everyday news, it often refers to outbreaks and epidemics.

伝でん染せん病びょうの予よ防ぼうには手て洗あらいが大たい切せつです。
Handwashing is important for preventing infectious diseases.

その地ち域いきで伝でん染せん病びょうが流りゅう行こうしている。

An epidemic is spreading in that region.

Kanji

伝transmit, go along, walk along
染dye, color, paint
病ill, sick

Similar words

感かん染せん症しょう
感染症 is the broader medical term for any infection, while 伝染病 emphasizes communicability and person-to-person spread.
流りゅう行こう病びょう
流行病 focuses on the epidemic aspect and is more colloquial; 伝染病 is the standard medical/public health term.

Etymology

Compound of 伝染 (contagion, infection) and 病 (disease). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji composition transparently reflects the meaning.