むせる

むせる
verb (ichidan)
to choke, to cough
1. to choke, to gag
To cough or gag when food, drink, or smoke goes down the wrong way or irritates the throat.
(みず)()んでむせた。
I choked while drinking water.
(けむり)でむせる。
To choke on smoke.
(いそ)いで()べたらむせてしまった。
I choked because I ate too quickly.

むせる is an ichidan verb meaning to choke or gag when something irritates the throat or goes down the wrong way.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 〜でむせる: to choke on ~
  • (けむり)でむせる: to choke on smoke
  • (みず)でむせる: to choke on water
  • (つば)でむせる: to choke on saliva
  • ()(もの)でむせる: to choke on food

RELATED EXPRESSIONS:

  • むせ(かえ)る: to choke up, be overwhelmed (also figurative)
  • (せき)()む: to have a coughing fit
  • (のど)()まる: to get stuck in one's throat

NOTE:
むせる describes a reflexive coughing/gagging reaction, not life-threatening choking. For serious choking, 窒息(ちっそく)する is used.