咽喉(いんこう)

いんこう
noun
throat; pharynx
1. throat; pharynx
The area at the back of the mouth and upper part of the throat, including the pharynx. Used in medical and formal contexts.
咽喉(いんこう)が痛(いた)い。
My throat hurts.
咽喉(いんこう)の炎症(えんしょう)で声(こえ)が出(で)ない。
I can't speak because of throat inflammation.
耳鼻(じび)咽喉科(いんこうか)を受診(じゅしん)した。
I visited the ear, nose, and throat department.
2. vital point; strategic chokepoint
Figuratively, a crucial point or narrow passage that controls access, like a throat controls breathing.
この海峡(かいきょう)は交通(こうつう)の咽喉(いんこう)だ。
This strait is a vital chokepoint for transportation.
咽喉(いんこう)を押(お)さえた者(もの)が戦(たたか)いを制(せい)する。
Whoever controls the chokepoint wins the battle.
この峠(とうげ)は古(ふる)くから軍事(ぐんじ)の咽喉(いんこう)として知(し)られていた。
This mountain pass has long been known as a military chokepoint.

Composed of 咽(いん) (pharynx) + 喉(こう) (larynx/throat). A Sino-Japanese compound used primarily in medical and formal contexts. The native Japanese word for throat is 喉(のど).

USAGE:

  • Medical/formal register — used in clinical settings and written language
  • In everyday speech, 喉(のど) is far more common
  • The figurative "chokepoint" sense appears in military, strategic, and geographical writing

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 耳鼻(じび)咽喉科(いんこうか): otorhinolaryngology (ENT department)
  • 咽喉(いんこう)炎(えん): pharyngitis, throat inflammation
  • 咽喉(いんこう)の要(かなめ): vital throat/strategic point

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 喉(のど): throat — the everyday word
  • 咽頭(いんとう): pharynx — strictly medical anatomical term
  • 喉頭(こうとう): larynx — the voice box specifically

Related Words

Related: 喉 (throat (everyday word))
general
Added 2026.4.23 23:42
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