The Meaning of kekkaku [結核] In Japanese

結核
けっかく
Romaji: kekkaku N2

What does 結核 mean?

Translation and Meaning

tuberculosis, TB

Definition

結核 is the infectious disease tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, most often affecting the lungs but can involve other organs.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • refers to tuberculosis, including latent and active infection
  • commonly used in medical literature and public health contexts
  • appears in compounds such as 肺結核 and 結核病 to specify pulmonary TB or the disease in general

Etymology

結 (ketsu) + 核 (kaku) → けっかく, a Sino‑Japanese compound formed with the on’yomi readings of the two kanji to name the disease in medical terminology; the phonology follows on’yomi concatenation rather than a native reading.

Origin

The term was integrated into Japanese medical vocabulary during the Meiji period (late 19th century) as part of adopting Western medicine, establishing a standard label for the tuberculous disease in clinical and academic texts.

Composition

  • 結: to tie, bind; conveys joining or linking
  • 核: core, nucleus; denotes central part

Usage

Used in formal medical terminology across clinical notes, textbooks, and public health communications; common phrases include 肺結核, 結核患者, 結核検査, 結核治療; in casual speech, speakers may specify the site or refer to it with the English acronym TB in mixed settings.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a knot (結) tying around a core (核); the image of a knot binding a central core helps recall the word and its medical sense as a disease name

Variations

  • 肺結核 (はいけっかく, haikekkaku) pulmonary tuberculosis
  • 結核病 (けっかくびょう, kekkakyū) tuberculosis disease
  • 結核菌 (けっかくきん, kekkakukin) tubercle bacillus

Example Phrases

  • 私の 結核の 検査を 受けることに なって 家族が 心配だ。
    Watashi no kekkaku no kensa o ukeru koto ni natte, kazoku ga shinpai da.
    The decision has been made that I will undergo a tuberculosis test, and my family is worried.
    Lista:
    • 私の (watashi no) – my
    • 結核の (kekkaku no) – tuberculosis
    • 検査を (kensa o) – test
    • 受けることに (ukeru koto ni) – to undergo
    • なって (natte) – become
    • 家族が (kazoku ga) – family
    • 心配だ (shinpai da) – worried
    この文でのポイントは、病名を指す名詞として「結核」を使い、検査を受けることになるという予定を表す点です。
結核