Word
In Japanese
(common) cold; influenza; flu
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. All sources.
Definition
n. a common illness that causes a fever, body aches, and a cough. It is more serious than a cold and is often called the flu.
n. an acute, highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract, typically characterised by inflammation of the mucous membranes, fever, and muscular pain.
Examples
“He stayed home from work because he had influenza.”
“Health officials recommend getting a vaccine every year to protect against the most common strains of influenza.”
“The 1918 influenza pandemic remains one of the deadliest events in human history, illustrating how rapidly a respiratory virus can spread across a globally connected population.”
Examples
simple
“He stayed home from work because he had influenza.”
contextual
“Health officials recommend getting a vaccine every year to protect against the most common strains of influenza.”
complex
“The 1918 influenza pandemic remains one of the deadliest events in human history, illustrating how rapidly a respiratory virus can spread across a globally connected population.”
Usage
Often used with the definite article ('the flu') in common speech; 'influenza' is preferred in medical or formal contexts.
Pitfall
I have a influenza
I have influenza
When using the full medical term, it is treated as an uncountable mass noun and does not take an indefinite article.
Real-World Examples
“The H5N1 influenza virus generally survives longest in cool, moist conditions .” “The fresh mutations have happened in a group of H3N2 influenzas.” Etymology
From Italian influenza (“influence”), from Latin influentia. Doublet of influence.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/influenza
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR