発作(ほっさ)

発作(ほっさ) refers to a sudden onset of symptoms, whether medical or emotional.

Pronunciation

Note the double consonant — ほっさ, not はっさ.

Medical types

• 心臓(しんぞう)発作(ほっさ): heart attack
• 喘息(ぜんそく)の発作(ほっさ): asthma attack
• パニック発作(ほっさ): panic attack
• てんかん発作(ほっさ): epileptic seizure

Common patterns

• 発作(ほっさ)を起(お)こす: to have an attack/fit
• 発作(ほっさ)が出(で)る: for an attack to occur
• 発作(ほっさ)に襲(おそ)われる: to be seized by a fit
• 発作(ほっさ)的(てき)(な): paroxysmal, impulsive, sudden

Usage

Also used for sudden emotional outbursts: 笑(わら)いの発作(ほっさ) (fit of laughter), 怒(いか)りの発作(ほっさ) (fit of rage).