空咳(からせき)

からせき
noun
dry cough; fake cough
medicalhealth
1. dry cough
A cough that produces no phlegm. A non-productive cough.
空咳(からせき)が止(と)まらない。
I can't stop my dry cough.
風邪(かぜ)の後(あと)、空咳(からせき)だけが残(のこ)った。
After my cold, only a dry cough remained.
乾燥(かんそう)した空気(くうき)のせいで空咳(からせき)が出(で)る。
The dry air is causing a dry cough.
2. fake cough; deliberate cough
A cough made on purpose to get someone's attention, signal discomfort, or cover an awkward silence.
彼(かれ)は空咳(からせき)をして注意(ちゅうい)を引(ひ)いた。
He gave a fake cough to get attention.
気(き)まずい沈黙(ちんもく)の中(なか)、誰(だれ)かが空咳(からせき)をした。
In the awkward silence, someone gave a deliberate cough.
先生(せんせい)が空咳(からせき)をすると、生徒(せいと)たちは静(しず)かになった。
When the teacher gave a deliberate cough, the students fell silent.

空咳(からせき) has two distinct meanings: a dry cough (medical) and a deliberate cough (social).

Forms

The prefix 空(から) means "empty" or "lacking content," as in 空(から)っぽ (empty) and 空振(からぶ)り (a swing and a miss). Here it indicates a cough with no phlegm, or a cough with no real need to cough.

USAGE (medical):
A dry, non-productive cough. Contrasts with 痰(たん)の絡(から)む咳(せき) (a productive cough with phlegm). Common with colds, allergies, and dry air.

USAGE (social):
A deliberate cough used to get attention, signal discomfort, or break an awkward silence. The standard expression is 空咳(からせき)をする.

Common patterns

general
Added 2026.3.23 13:40 · Revised 2026.10.18 21:57
18500/18805_karaseki