膿(うみ)

うみ
noun
pus; festering matter
body-internalhealth
1. pus; suppuration; festering matter
The yellowish-white fluid that forms at the site of an infection, consisting of dead white blood cells, bacteria, and tissue debris.
傷口(きずぐち)から膿(うみ)が出(で)ている。
Pus is coming out of the wound.
膿(うみ)を出(だ)してから消毒(しょうどく)した。
I disinfected it after draining the pus.
歯茎(はぐき)が腫(は)れて膿(うみ)がたまっていた。
My gums were swollen and pus had accumulated.
2. corruption; rot; something rotten (figurative)
Used figuratively to refer to deep-seated corruption, problems, or dysfunction within an organization or system that needs to be exposed and dealt with.
組織(そしき)の膿(うみ)を出(だ)し切(き)る。
To root out all the corruption in the organization.
長年(ながねん)の膿(うみ)を出(だ)す改革(かいかく)が求(もと)められている。
Reforms that root out years of accumulated rot are needed.
不祥事(ふしょうじ)をきっかけに、会社(かいしゃ)の膿(うみ)が次々(つぎつぎ)と明(あき)らかになった。
Triggered by the scandal, the company's deep-seated corruption was exposed one after another.

A basic medical term that is also widely used as a powerful metaphor for corruption and systemic problems.

Common collocations

Note on homophones

Do not confuse with 海(うみ) (sea, ocean), which has the same pronunciation.

Similar words

  • 化膿(かのう): suppuration, festering — the medical process of pus formation
  • 腐敗(ふはい): corruption, decay — used figuratively for organizational corruption

Related Words

Compare: 腐敗(ふはい) (corruption, decay)
general
Added 2026.4.3 5:29 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
21500/21675_umi