1.
stool; feces; bowel movement
The clinical or neutral term for fecal matter or the act of defecation. Used in medical settings and in everyday conversation as a more polite alternative to cruder terms.
The standard neutral/medical term for feces and bowel movements. In medical contexts this is by far the most common word. In everyday conversation, people often use the more casual うんち (for children or casual talk) or 大便 (more formal/clinical).
Note that the kanji 便 also has the reading びん meaning "mail; flight; service" (as in 郵便 or 便), which is a separate word.
Common collocations
- 便秘: constipation
- 軟便: soft stool
- 硬便: hard stool
- 血便: bloody stool
- 便意: urge to defecate
- 便を出す: to have a bowel movement
- 便の検査: stool test