What is 聴診器?
聴診器 (ちょうしんき) is the Japanese word for "stethoscope," a medical instrument used primarily by doctors and nurses to listen to internal sounds of a patient's body, such as the heartbeat and breathing.
Common Usage
This word is mostly used in medical contexts. It often appears when describing physical examinations or medical professionals at work. For example, doctors are frequently described as having a 聴診器 around their neck.
Collocations and Patterns
- 聴診器を使う: to use a stethoscope, commonly said when listening to heart or lung sounds.
- 聴診器で聞く: to listen with a stethoscope, emphasizing the action of auscultation.
- 聴診器を首にかける: to hang a stethoscope around the neck, a common image of medical professionals.
Register and Politeness
聴診器 is a formal and technical term used in professional and educational settings. It is not casual vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 聴診器 with other medical tools or general listening verbs. Remember, 聴診器 specifically refers to the stethoscope, not just any listening device.