noun
Medical and biological term for saliva; also used for sputum in clinical contexts. In everyday conversation, つば is more common.
唾液の分泌が減ると口が渇きやすくなる。
When saliva secretion decreases, the mouth tends to become dry.
検査のために唾液を採取した。
Saliva was collected for testing.
Everyday word for saliva or spit; 唾液 is the formal medical term.
From Middle Chinese 唾液 (tʰɑp̚ jiᴇiH, 'saliva'). The kanji 唾 means 'saliva' and 液 means 'fluid'.