麻酔

• Reading: ますい
• Romaji: masui
• Kanji breakdown: 麻 (ma) — numb, hemp, flax; 酔 (sui) — drunk, intoxicated
• Pronunciation: /ma.sɯ.i/

Meaning

Anaesthesia; the medical procedure of numbing sensation or inducing unconsciousness for surgery.

A noun referring to the use of drugs to eliminate pain or consciousness during medical procedures. Types include 全身麻酔 (zenshin masui, general anaesthesia) and 局所麻酔 (kyokusho masui, local anaesthesia). Also used as a suru-verb: 麻酔をかける (to administer anaesthesia). A common word in hospital settings and widely understood by the general public.

Examples

1. 手術の前に全身麻酔をかけられた。 I was put under general anesthesia before the surgery.
2. 歯医者で麻酔が切れて痛くなった。 The anesthesia wore off at the dentist and it started to hurt.
3. 局所麻酔なので、手術中も意識はあった。 Since it was local anesthesia, I was conscious during the surgery.

Usage Guide

Context: hospitals, surgery, dentistry

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 麻 (ma, numb/hemp) + 酔 (sui, intoxicated/drunk). Literally 'numb intoxication' — the state of being numbed, originally associated with the effects of hemp-derived substances.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal