伝染病

• Reading: でんせんびょう
• Romaji: densenbyou
• Kanji breakdown: 伝 (den) — transmit, convey; 染 (sen) — dye, infect, stain; 病 (byou) — illness, disease
• Pronunciation: /deɴ.seɴ.bʲoː/

Meaning

Contagious disease; infectious disease; epidemic. A disease that spreads from person to person.

A noun for diseases that are transmitted between people or organisms. While the formal medical term is now 感染症 (kansenshou, infectious disease), 伝染病 remains widely understood and used in everyday conversation. Covers diseases spread through air, contact, water, or vectors. Common in discussions about public health, epidemics, and hygiene.

Examples

1. 昔は伝染病で多くの人が亡くなった。 In the old days, many people died from contagious diseases.
2. 伝染病の拡大を防ぐために、手洗いが重要だ。 Washing your hands is important to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.
3. 海外旅行の前に伝染病の予防接種を受けた。 I got vaccinated against infectious diseases before traveling abroad.

Usage Guide

Context: public health, history, news

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 伝染 (densen: 伝 'transmit' + 染 'dye/infect') + 病 (byou, illness). The character 染 literally means 'to dye' — disease 'colours' or spreads through a population like dye through fabric.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal