咳嗽

You can use 咳嗽 as a verb or a noun. To say "I am coughing," you simply say 我咳嗽. If you want to describe a persistent cough, you’d say 我一直咳嗽. It doesn't need fancy grammar particles to work. You can also use it to describe the symptom itself. For example, "My cough is getting better" would be 我的咳嗽好点了. It’s a very 'stable' word that doesn't change much based on context. Think of it as the reliable, albeit slightly sickly, friend in your vocabulary. It's like that one app on your phone you only use when you're in trouble.

Imagine you’re on a Zoom call and you need to mute yourself. You might type in the chat: "Sorry, 我一直在咳嗽 (I’ve been coughing)." Or think about a travel vlogger in Beijing. They might mention the pollution by saying: "Today the air is bad, 我开始咳嗽了 (I started coughing)." In a pharmacy, you’d point to your throat and say 我咳嗽很厉害 (My cough is very severe). It’s the universal 'I need medicine' phrase. Even on TikTok, you might see people using a fake 咳嗽 to get someone's attention. It's the original 'low-battery' notification for humans.

Use it when you’re actually sick with a cold or flu. It’s perfect for explaining why you can’t come to the party. You should also use it when talking about allergies or dry air. If you’re at a hospital, this is your primary keyword. It’s neutral and safe for all settings. You can use it with your boss or your best friend. It’s not a 'gross' word, so don't be shy. Just remember to cover your mouth, or at least use the emoji version online.

Don’t use 咳嗽 if you’re just clearing your throat to start a speech. That has its own word: 清嗓子. If you use 咳嗽 there, people will think you have a fever. Also, don’t use it for a 'gagging' sound or when you’re choking on food. It’s specifically for that 'lung-based' air expulsion. If you try to use it for a sneeze, you'll get some very confused looks. It's like trying to use a fork to eat soup—technically possible, but weird.

Learners often try to translate "I have a cough" literally. In Chinese, we prefer saying "I am coughing." It's more active and direct. It’s like the difference between saying 'I have hunger' and 'I am hungry.'

If you want to sound more medical, you might hear 咳疾 (coughing illness). For a slight tickle, you might just use the single character 咳. Then there’s 干咳, which means a 'dry cough' with no phlegm. If you're sneezing too, you'll need 打喷嚏. These are the 'cousins' of 咳嗽. They all live in the same 'I feel terrible' neighborhood. Learning them all makes you sound like a pro at being sick.

You’ll often see it paired with 感冒 (cold) as in 感冒咳嗽. In northern China, people might add a little 'r' sound, but it's rare for this specific word. You might also hear 小咳嗽 for a minor cough. On social media, people sometimes use the pinyin ks as shorthand. It's like how we use 'lol' but significantly less fun. Unless you're into medical shorthand, stick to the full characters.

Is 咳嗽 formal? It’s neutral—perfect for both a doctor and a toddler. Can I use it for a fake cough? Yes, just like in English. Do I need a measure word? Usually no, because it's used as a verb. What if I'm coughing up something? Then you'd use 咳痰 (coughing up phlegm). Is it the same in Cantonese? The characters are the same, but the pronunciation is different. Don't worry, people will still understand the writing!