伝染(でんせん)

でんせん
noun
contagion, infection
1. contagion, infection, transmission
The spreading of disease from one person or organism to another.
伝染(でんせん)病(びょう)に気(き)をつける。
I am careful about infectious diseases.
この病気(びょうき)は人(ひと)から人(ひと)へ伝染(でんせん)する。
This disease is transmitted from person to person.
伝染(でんせん)を防(ふせ)ぐために手(て)を洗(あら)うことが大切(たいせつ)だ。
Washing your hands is important to prevent the spread of infection.
2. spreading (of emotions, behaviors)
The figurative spreading of feelings or behaviors from one person to others.
あくびが伝染(でんせん)した。
The yawn was contagious.
笑(わら)いは伝染(でんせん)する。
Laughter is contagious.
彼女(かのじょ)の不安(ふあん)が周(まわ)りに伝染(でんせん)した。
Her anxiety spread to those around her.

伝染(でんせん) refers to the transmission of disease from one organism to another, and also the figurative spread of emotions or behaviors.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 伝染(でんせん)する: to spread, to be transmitted
  • 伝染(でんせん)病(びょう): infectious disease
  • 伝染(でんせん)力(りょく): infectivity
  • 空気(くうき)伝染(でんせん): airborne transmission

FIGURATIVE USE:
Commonly used for emotions and involuntary actions that spread from person to person: あくびが伝染(でんせん)する (yawning is contagious), 笑(わら)いが伝染(でんせん)する (laughter is contagious), 不安(ふあん)が伝染(でんせん)する (anxiety spreads).

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 感染(かんせん): infection (medical, more technical — 感染(かんせん)する is more common in modern medical usage)
  • 蔓延(まんえん): widespread spread, rampancy
  • 伝染(でんせん) has a slightly older feel; 感染(かんせん) is now preferred in clinical contexts

Related Words

Synonym: 感染(かんせん) (infection (medical))
general
Added 2026.1.14 9:33 · Revised 2026.4.8 11:45
04500/04549_densen