花粉症(かふんしょう)

かふんしょう
noun
hay fever; pollen allergy
1. hay fever; pollen allergy
An allergic reaction to pollen, causing symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. Extremely common in Japan, especially during spring cedar pollen season.
春(はる)になると花粉症(かふんしょう)の症状(しょうじょう)が出(で)る。
When spring comes, my hay fever symptoms appear.
花粉症(かふんしょう)がひどくて外(そと)に出(で)られない。
My hay fever is so bad that I can't go outside.
日本人(にほんじん)の約(やく)4人(にん)に1人(にん)が花粉症(かふんしょう)だと言(い)われている。
It's said that about 1 in 4 Japanese people have hay fever.

花粉症(かふんしょう) refers to pollen allergies (hay fever).

Common symptoms:

  • くしゃみ (sneezing)
  • 鼻水(はなみず) (runny nose)
  • 鼻(はな)づまり (stuffy nose)
  • 目(め)の痒(かゆ)み (itchy eyes)
  • 涙(なみだ) (watery eyes)

Main allergens in Japan:

  • 杉(すぎ)花粉(かふん) (cedar pollen - February to April)
  • 檜(ひのき)花粉(かふん) (cypress pollen - March to May)
  • 稲(いね)科(か)花粉(かふん) (grass pollen - May to July)
  • 秋(あき)の雑草(ざっそう)花粉(かふん) (autumn weed pollen)

Common expressions:

  • 花粉症(かふんしょう)の薬(くすり) (hay fever medicine)
  • 花粉症(かふんしょう)対策(たいさく) (hay fever countermeasures)

Cultural note:
花粉症(かふんしょう) affects a huge portion of the Japanese population. During peak season, many people wear masks and special glasses. Weather forecasts include pollen counts (花粉(かふん)予報(よほう)), and pharmacies prominently display 花粉症(かふんしょう) remedies.

Related Words

Related: 花粉(かふん)
general
Added 2026.1.14 20:02 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
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